‘Lunchbox’ director Ritesh Batra,Film Federation in wordy duel over Oscars entry

Replying to Sen’s letter,Ritesh Batra pointed out that only he,a first-time filmmaker,was asked to apologise despite many industry stalwarts raising their voice against the selection. He,however,offerd an apology.

Ritesh Batra’s (director of The Lunchbox) response to the letter he received from FFI

Dear Sir,

Ritesh

“If an apology is what you demand,you have it. Both you and the jury have my wholehearted apology. There was no intent to hurt anyone,but rather to participate in the vigorous debate that this decision ignited in the public domain.

“Sir,please use your good offices to give us a transparent,objective process with a public and not a secret jury. It is a direct and humble request,not a criticism,”

Ritesh Batra said in the reply.

Ritesh Batra,producer Anurag Kashyap and presenter Karan Johar had expressed their disappointment at the selection of Gyan Correa’s Gujarati-language film as India’s Oscar entry last month,alleging lack of transparency in the selection.

“Congrats to The Good Road,hope it makes it all the way,else it will be a lost chance by FFI apptd jury that lacks vision. Hope I am wrong (sic),” Ritesh Batra had tweeted soon after ‘The Good Road’s announcement as Oscar entry.

Taking exception to their remarks,Sen,in a letter,threatened to take the matter with Academy and I&B ministry.

“Film Federation of India takes great umbrage at the way you have gone about demeaning a film when an eminent jury has selected it as India’s entry. You might not agree with the selection,that’s your prerogative. But to continuously and recklessly make comments and innuendos about it is really not done,” Sen wrote in the letter.

‘The Lunchbox’ created a great buzz in festivals like Cannes,Telluride and Toronto. With Sony Pictures Classics buying its US rights,the makers had contended that it had a better shot at winning the foreign film Oscar.

Sen,however,doubted Ritesh Ritesh Batra’s claim that his film had a good chance at the Oscars on the basis of its festival run.

“You and the team have been stating time and again in various interactions in the media that once (note not ‘if’ but once!) Lunchbox is selected from India,you have been assured by Sony Classics that it will have a spectacular run in the Oscar! You in fact have even termed this selection of The Lunchbox from India as a mere technicality! Excuse me !!!!

“What we are very interested in knowing is how are you making such claims? How can Sony Classics assure you of any such thing? Are you suggesting that the Oscar is rigged? We are taking this matter up separately with the Academy,” Sen wrote in the letter.Sen also objected to Ritesh Batra’s alleged Facebook post about ‘there being a corruption’ in the process.

“As you are aware,The Good Road is produced by NFDC,a Government of India undertaking! Are you then suggesting that the I&B Ministry ie The Government of India has made a successful attempt in bribing the jurors???… Very serious allegations indeed… we are taking up this matter with the I & B Ministry,” Sen wrote.

In his reply to FFI,Ritesh Batra said he hoped that the debate over the selection for India’s Oscar entry would prompt the federation to come up with a new policy.

“I have moved on from this debate to focus on more productive pursuits and I would encourage everyone to do the same. With much respect for your tough job,” Ritesh Ritesh Batra wrote.