Small-town tales win Oscars: Kiran Rao breaks down India's Oscar-winning formula
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The Oscar campaign for Homebound has kicked off in the US, with a recent screening aimed at promoting the film. Kiran Rao, whose film Lapataa Ladies was India's 2023 Oscar entry, is thrilled about the Neeraj Ghaywan-directed film's success. Both Homebound and Lapataa Ladies are small-town stories, sparking a question about why juries often choose such narratives to represent India at the Oscars. According to Rao, the shift in commercial cinema's focus away from rural stories has led to juries opting for more authentic representations of India's masses. These films often tell unusual stories by exploring lesser-known settings and backdrops, offering a more diverse and authentic image of India. However, despite their global acclaim, these films struggle at the Indian box office. Rao attributes this to a decline in theatrical viewing habits, citing the convenience of watching films at home and the pressure of marketing and word-of-mouth. She also notes that the presence of new actors can make it challenging for films to attract audiences. With the cost of cinema tickets and the need for strong marketing and word-of-mouth, many viewers are hesitant to try new films, making it a significant hurdle for small-town stories to succeed in India.
