The National Award jury has acknowledged fantasy cinema, says Goutam Ghose

Goutam Ghose���s ���Sankhachil��� is the only Bengali film to have bagged a National Award this year. That too for the Best Bengali Feature Film selection. But is the master director happy with the selection? Excerpts from an interview with the director:

The National Award has been announced. Are you happy with the decision?
I have won many National Awards. It feels good that ���Sankhachil��� - a film based on cross-border issues - has been adjudged as the Best Bengali film by the 63rd National Award selection jury. It is good that the film got this award before its release on April 15. My previous Indo-Bangla production - 'Moner Manush' - had got the IFFI Golden Peacock before its release. Every year, the decision of the jury changes. When I have been on the jury of the National Award, I gave the accent on aesthetics, cinematic art and social relevance.

Do you think that has been followed this year?
This year, the accent was on mainstream cinema. The jury gave importance to fantasy cinema. It all depends on how the jury sees the films.

A jury member has stated that ���Baahubali��� is a better film than ���Sankhachil��� and ���Cinemawalah���. Do you agree?
Now, what can I say to that? Everything depends on the way jury members view cinema.

That���s fine. But still there are some standard parameters that need to be followed���
In a country like India, there can���t be any parameters for anything.

Looking at the Tollywood presence in the National Awards list, some have said instead of cribbing, Bengali film industry must self-introspect. They say that Bengali films are doing good business but���
No, that���s not correct. It���s not true that the films are doing well.

Do you agree that the standard of Bengali cinema has gone down?
It���s a fact that Bengali films are no longer doing great at the international market. True, it is time for Tollywood to look inwards and take corrective measures. I feel it is important to be careful.