Soon after “Court” – a Marathi courtroom drama directed by first-timer Chaitanya Tamhane – was announced as India’s official entry in the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 88th Academy Awards, the news of Rawail leaving the jury started doing the rounds.
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Rahul Rawail, was part of the 17-member jury that collectively selected “Court” as India’s official entry for the Oscars.
Mr Rawail has however mentioned in all his statements that he is very happy with the selection of Court and his fellow jury members, a fact which we appreciate.
All is not between director Rahul Rawail and newly appointed jury chairperson Amol Palekar. Finally when I checked it, I got to know that film A was at the top position while B was the last and C was the second highest with Court in the third place. I think they had a personal problem and it does not have to do with “Court'”. I asked Amol to show me the votes, let me see them but he refused. Rahul also said that he demanded a re-poll and pushed them for re-counting. “His associate was trying to influence all the jury members which is absolutely against the ethics”. Rawail thought this was ridiculous and considered resigning from the post so that the impasse is solved. But Amol Palekar brought along his associate which is not permitted.
Rawail said: “He doesn’t like the film and he has attempted at every step to remove “Court”. Court in the initial round had only 4 votes. All were surprised with this decision. “Mr Palekar wants to give an impression that he is the hero of Court, by portraying that he pushed it up”, said Mr Rawail.
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Rawail claimed that Palekar’s wife also sat for the screening and would tell the members that a particular film was good and to consider aspects like photography of a film. The different layers in the film and the tediousness of going to court in India is something that even you would empathize with when you watch the film. Rawail claims that she didn’t have the right to do so and as chairman, Amol should’ve stopped this.
