Ocsar, recognition of Indian talent: MrinalSen

Kolkata, Feb 23 (IANS) With Indian music maestro A.R. Rahman, lyricist Gulzar and sound technician Resul Pookutty bagging Oscar awards for their work in "Slumdog Millionaire", veteran filmmaker Mrinal Sen Monday said India's technical expertise has finally been recognised by the global audience.

"The sound mixing of the film was fabulous and I know many Bollywood sound engineers were part of the team. Their work has now been well accepted by the international audience," Sen told IANS.

"Though I have not been able to watch the film, I have seen some of the promos and listened to the songs. I liked it very much."

"In 'Slumdog Millionaire', the cocktail of film-making excellence and aggressive marketing strategy has successfully clicked," Sen added.

The rags-to-riches story of a Mumbai slum boy, directed by British filmmaker Danny Boyle, bagged eight Oscar trophies at the 81st Academy Awards.

"I believe many Indian celluloid masterpieces like Satyajit Ray's 'Pather Panchali' or 'Aparajito' should have got Academy Awards in individual categories. But Ray got the Oscar only for lifetime achievement.," Sen noted.

"But finally Indian film-making excellence has got recognition and I am extremely happy for it," said the octogenarian film director.

"Though I admit there must be a reflection of social facets in movies, how you present it is very important. Poverty is a reality in the third world and you cannot hide it. But this fact should be presented in a moderate and decent way."

"When Satyajit Ray made Pather Panchali, there was also a huge cry against the film that it showed India's poverty. But what is most interesting to me is that the film clearly depicted how a poor family in rural India dared to live with its social dignity," Sen said.

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