Finally, An Oscar Nomination For India

After years  of misfired  enthusiasm, India has  finally succeeded  in getting itself an Oscar nomination, albeit in  the documentary section. Though not directed  by an Indian Period. End  Of Sentence directed  by the  Iranian-American filmmaker Rayka Zehtabchi , about  menstrual  hygiene  in India  featuring ‘PadMan’  Arunachalam Muruganantham, has been shortlisted for an Oscar  nomination this year  in  the  Best Documentary  section.

Guneet Monga who  co-produces  the film  is in a state of disbelief. “I am really  over the  moon.It is so so so amazing to  be  up there with the  other distinguished documentaries. I am  truly humbled and grateful  to the Academy.”

The  only  other  occasion in recent memory  when an India-based  film was nominated for an Oscar was AshutoshGowariker’s Lagaan which  was nominated  in the Best Foreign Film category  in  2002.

 Period. End  Of  Sentence  is the second  film in a year to  feature the  struggles of Arunchalam Muruganantham to  provide  economical sanitary  napkins to  rural Indian women. Last year  director R  Balki made the well-received PadMan  withAkshay Kumar playing Arunachalam.

Said  Arunachalam, “It’s been my struggle to   give  dignity and validation to women  during  the time of  the  month  so that they get the same  dignity and validation all  through the year.I owe  my success to my wife  and the recognition that I’ve received is also hers.”