No, 'Swatantrya Veer Savarkar' isn't India's official pick for Oscars
What's the story
The Film Federation of India (FFI) has refuted claims made by the makers of the biopic Swatantrya Veer Savarkar about its official submission for the Oscars.
The announcement was made on Instagram on Tuesday, thanking FFI for their "remarkable appreciation." This led to widespread speculation that the film was India's other official entry for the Academy Awards.
FFI had already declared Laapataa Ladies as India's official submission to the Oscars this year.
Statement release
FFI President to release statement clarifying confusion
In response to the ensuing confusion, Ravi Kottakara, President of FFI, clarified that the makers of Swatantrya Veer Savarkar had given some "wrong communication."
He told HT City, "I am going to release a statement about it as well. Only Laapataa Ladies has been sent for Oscars from India officially."
This clarification aims to set the record straight and dispel any misconceptions about the film's Oscar submission status.
Producer's claim
'Swatantrya Veer Savarkar' co-producer insisted on official submission
Despite FFI's denial, Anand Pandit, a co-producer of Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, maintained that the film had indeed been submitted by FFI.
He stated, "I didn't know when the film was submitted; I was told about it on Monday. Going to the Oscars is a big milestone. I am, of course, very happy."
This statement further adds to the ongoing confusion surrounding the film's Oscar submission status.
Director's silence
'Swatantrya Veer Savarkar' director and lead actor remained silent
Interestingly, the Instagram post announcing the film's "official" Oscar submission was a collaborative effort involving actor Ankita Lokhande, co-producer Sandeep Singh, and the production houses backing the project.
However, Randeep Hooda, who directed and starred in Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, did not share any updates on his social media platforms.
Attempts by HT to reach out to Hooda for comments were unsuccessful.
Insider's view
'This is very shady': Insider on Oscar controversy
Meanwhile, an insider close to the situation expressed their concerns about the controversy.
They commented, "This is very shady. Even a quote attributed to Randeep (Hooda) was given out in press releases when he has not given a quote."
Hooda's above-mentioned statement read, "It's an honor to represent a film that resonates so deeply with Indian history. Swatantrya Veer Savarkar is a film that aims to bring forgotten stories to the forefront, and this recognition pushes our narrative even further."