Director Hansal Mehta has reacted to Film Federation of India (FFI) head Jahnu Barua’s comments stating that All We Imagine As Light was “very poor technically.” Taking to X, Hansal reacted to a person’s tweet talking about Jahnu’s remarks.
A person tweeted, "Jahnnu Barua is not some random masala filmmaker. I still cannot figure why he said what he said. I was shocked to hear his views."
Reacting to it, Hansal wrote, “It is indeed disappointing to hear. I was asked to be on this jury several times, including this time. But I’d rather stay away than have to pretend that all these choices are free of external pressures and only based on merit. Besides, I refuse to accept that FFI can decide these things, including selection of juries."
Earlier, another person also posted, reacting to Jahnu's comment, "LOL. it’s okay, you made a blunder; it is normal for you. I would now request that you sit back and relax until the next one." To that Hansal replied, "He must explain what ‘technically poor’ means."
Previously in an interview with Hindustan Times, the FFI head had spoken about picking up Laapataa Ladies over All We Imagine As Light as India’s official entry to the Oscars. “The jury felt that the films which have gone to the Oscars in the last few years lacked Indian-ness. A film needs to represent the nation. We felt that Laapataa Ladies had all the right elements, and presented the social chaos we go through brilliantly." Talking about Payal Kapadia’s film, he said, "The jury felt that her film was very poor technically.”
While Laapataa Ladies couldn’t make it to the Academy nominations, All We Imagine As Light, after winning a Grand Prix at Cannes Film Festival this year, has been nominated for two awards at the Golden Globes: Best International Feature and Best Director.
