'Raju' star to watch Oscar at home

An oscar is a ‘boro prize’ for Krish Gupta. But it’s also too far away. As his ‘Raju’ fights it out for the golden statuette on Monday, the child will have to be content catching the action on TV
Amio jabo,” says little Krish, his eyes shining like stars in the dark room. There are so many journeys ahead for the boy — out through the narrow door, into the snaking alley of the slum, past the filth and squalor and into the wide world of opportunities.But those are not thoughts playing in his six-year-old head.
All that Krish cares about is that he wants to go to the Oscars. Krish is, after all, the protagonist of “Raju”, which has won an Academy Award nomination for Best Short Film (Live Action) this year.
The KG student had shot for this German graduation movie about illegal adoptions back in August 2010. Produced by Stefan Gieren and directed by Max Zähle — both German students — it is a story of a German couple that adopts an orphan from Kolkata. But the child suddenly disappears and the couple is faced with numerous problems.
The film’s journey to international festivals has been mirrored in the smaller journeys made by Krish’s family in Kolkata. The family of nine still lives in the 8ftx8ft room in a south Kolkata slum. But Krish goes to a better school, the money that the family got from the film has been invested in a fixed deposit. Now, with the Oscar nomination, the boy is once again at the centre of a lot of attention.
Oscar pie
Having toured festivals all across the globe, “Raju” has already won the bronze medal at the 38th Student Academy Award 2011. But the Oscar nomination comes as the cherry on the cake. So what are the Oscars? “Oscar ekta boro prize,” comes the instant answer from Krish.
Taranjit Kaur, who was the film’s casting director and also had a role in it, says, “He wasn’t too interested in the awards when we first told him about the nomination. But once it all sunk in, he was like, ‘I also want to go to America. I will take a bus and then catch a flight’.”
Taranjit was also keen on going to the Oscars. “Had it been a big budget Hollywood venture — something like “Slumdog Millionaire” — getting sponsors would not have been a problem. I was also hoping that the government would come forward to sponsor the tickets for at least two-three members of the cast. I tried talking to a couple of people, but time was a constraint and I have other commitments. Had there been a month, I could have tried harder.”
But didn’t Stefan and the team try to help them in any way? “Stefan was keen that we try and make it. In fact, they did try to get the Indian crew there,” says Taranjit, keeping her fingers crossed that “Raju” finally wins the crown.
Getting real
But then, this could have been Krish’s gateway to the world, to a bright future. His parents — Sunita and Madan Lal Gupta — are very happy for their son. Even if there is some regret that their son could not travel to the awards, it doesn’t show. “No, I never knocked on any door for sponsorship. I just had a word with didi (Taranjit). I am happy that my son’s film is creating waves. For now, I want him to study. The rest can wait,” says Madan Lal, who works at a printing press.
Sunita, too, just wants a bright future for Krish. “Along the way, if he gets film offers, then why not?” she says. Taranjit, too, is not “totally disappointed”. “Media has supported the film beyond our expectations. That apart, Krish, who was earlier going to a small school, has now joined an English-medium school. Proper education is the prerequisite to a sound future — that’s how I see it.What we need now is that the film be screened at more and more Indian festivals. That should open a few doors.”
So what does the family plan to do when the Academy Awards function is held on February 27? Here, in Kolkata, it will already be the morning after and the family plans to watch the show together. “We will be glued to the television from 6 am. No ranna banna on that day,” Rinku, Krish’s aunt says with a smile.
As for Krish, he says, “Bondhuder sathe Oscar dekhbo.” The TV will have to compensate for the one trip the child could not make, but for little Krish, life promises many other journeys.
Filmi Baatein
The crew started shooting in August 2010 and filmed in the city for nearly a month. This is a German graduation film about illegal adoptions. The cast includes names such as Wotan Wilke Möhring, Julia Richter Arindam Sil, Arindom Gosh and Suroma Nag Krish, who will be a year older on March 11, was four-plus when he started shooting for ‘Raju’. The film won the Special Jury Recognition Award and the Audience Recognition Award at the 20th Aspen Shortfest 2011 / USA.