World sees Oscar-winning potential in The Lunchbox: Irrfan

Actor is hopeful that his film will be India’s official entry into the Oscars.

MUMBAI:

Actor Irrfan Khan’s upcoming film The Lunchbox is being appreciated at film festivals across the world, and he states that everyone whose opinion matters in international cinema, including the audiences, want The Lunchbox to become India’s official entry into the Oscars. The actor has been seen in both Hollywood and Bollywood movies, such as Life of Pi and The Amazing Spiderman, along with 7 Khoon Maaf and Yeh Saali Zindagi

On foreign shores, Ritesh Batra’s directorial venture has created a buzz  — it went to the Toronto International Film Festival, and will be screened at the Zurich and London film festivals. The movie won Critics’ Week Viewers Choice Award at Cannes this year.

“The opinion that critics and audiences have and also of those whose opinion matters, they believe if the film is sent from India (for the Oscars), it has the potential to travel forward,” the 46-year-old said in an interview on Thursday.

“Hollywood Reporter has also written that ‘we expect the film to be Oscar entry from India’. So this is a possibility with the film. It has this strength, universal appeal, fresh language and story,” he added.

Irrfan feels this is an opportunity that should not be missed out on.”I personally feel that this is a huge opportunity and should not be missed out on. The right film should be chosen. It affects the environment and  the upcoming generation. It becomes a source of inspiration and builds our morale that our language can connect with the global world,” Irrfan said.

“This perception is not right that only certain types of films are made in India. Cinema is being explored and flourishing. So, this decision is very important,” added Irrfan.

The Lunchbox also stars Nimrat Kaur and Nawazuddin Siddiqui and hits theatres on Sep 20.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 15^th, 2013.

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