‘RRR’ got rejected because ‘Chhello Show’ is ‘heart-tugging’

The debate over selecting the Gujarati film ‘Chhello Show’ as India’s official Oscar entry over ‘RRR’ continues. Why was ‘Roudram Ranam Rudhiram’ not chosen? We now have a take given by FFI member TS Nagabharana himself. 

Speaking to a national daily, Nagabharana said that the idea was to have a film that represents India in a different way. The Gujarati film goes beyond the narrative of a regular Indian reality, as per him. He also said that the film is also heart-tugging. 

Speaking to a portal, Film Federation of India President TP Aggarwal clarified that ‘Chhello Show’ was unanimously chosen by all 17 jury members.

FFI feels that a film’s box office collections and popularity are not the criteria for selecting it for an Oscar nomination. If that were the case, films like ‘Dangal’ and ‘Baahubali’ would have been sent as entries from India. 

Whatever it may be, in public perception, the FFI has lost its credibility. Commentators are also calling for transparency in the selection of the jury.