Straight answers

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="" font-style:="" italic="">Ashutosh Gowarikar</span><span style="" font-style:="" italic="">, Filmmaker, On becoming a member of the directors'' branch at the Oscar committee</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">How do you feel about becoming part of the elite crowd?</span><br /><br />It feels nice to be a part of the directors branch of the Oscar committee. I am very pleased. After all, the academy is the highest one can go in cinema. It is considered to be the Olympics of cinema and I feel honoured to be a part of this esteemed body.<br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">What does this membership entitle you to do?</span><br /><br />I have become a member of the directors branch who are entitled to vote for films in the main category of films and not the foreign film. Besides, I will have access to the Academy''s library which has the world''s best collection of films. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Has there been any other Indian who has been a member?</span><br /><br />I think Bhanu Athaiya who designed the costumes for Gandhi and won an Oscar for it is also a member jury. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">How was the appointment done? </span><br /><br />It is actually by default. According to the Academy rules whoever gets nominated finds a place in the committee. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Why did it take so long because </span><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="" font-style:="" italic="">Lagaan</span><span style="" font-weight:="" bold=""> happened a couple of years back? </span><br /><br />I knew about it and was waiting for them to get in touch. The formalities and paperwork takes a long time which is perhaps the reason for the delay. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">So you will be voting for next year''s Oscars?</span><br /><br />Yes, I guess so. They will be sending me all the stuff by December and I can do it from here itself. I am not required to go there. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Do you feel that your membership at the Academy will affect your next release </span><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="" font-style:="" italic="">Swades</span><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">? </span><br /><br />I don''t think so. It is simply a coincidence. <br /><span style="" font-style:="" italic="">sharmistha.chatterjee@timesgroup.com</span></div> </div>