Ashutosh Gowarikar on Oscar jury

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><script language="javascript">doweshowbellyad=0; </script></div> <div align="left" style="position:relative; left: 0"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" align="left" border="0" width="17.3%"> <colgroup> <col width="100.0%" /> </colgroup> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:="" f3f3f3=""> <div class="Normal"><img src="/photo/913385.cms" alt="/photo/913385.cms" border="0" /></div> </td> </tr> </table></div> <div class="Normal">MUMBAI: Bollywood director Ashutosh Gowarikar has been selected as a member of the directors branch of the prestigious Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science, the body that instituted the Oscars.<br /><br />"This was communicated to me last week.A membership would allow me to enjoy certain benefits like access to film archives of the academy and their library," Ashutosh, whose film <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Lagaan</span> was among those nominated in the category of best foreign films at the Oscars, told PTI here.<br /><br />"It would also allow me to cast my vote to select the best of mainstream American films", he said adding quickly, "though I would have loved to vote for Foreign Films section as well".<br /><br />"This is a life membership", he explains.<br /><br />On the issue of the Marathi film <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Shwaas </span>being India''s entry for Oscars this time, he said, "I had a meeting with the director of <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Shwaas</span>. I have given him all the information regarding the publicity aspect".<br /><br />"I have shared with him my own experiences about <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Lagaan</span>. The main thing required there is an awareness about the film, which I have repeatedly told him", he added.</div> </div>