To My Motherland, India: Hearing Those Words From the Oscars Stage was a Symphony to My Immigrant Ears
- No discussion of the 95th Academy Awards would be complete without mentioning the unseen shard of the invisible ceiling that was shattered.
“To my motherland, India…,” Kartiki Gonsalves said, and it was a symphony to my immigrant ears. These words which have been a part of the imaginary acceptance speeches of numerous creatives from the Indian diaspora were spoken proudly and emphatically on the largest stage honoring the creativity and excellence of global talent, and the world rejoiced.
The Academy Awards this year were different, infectious and a remarkable triumph in getting to the core of entertainment in all its diverse forms. From celebrating motherhood in a zany multiverse presenting an overwhelmed Asian mom as a superhero transcending her humdrum life in “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” to having a mule and an actor in a bear costume as presenters, there was a lot vying for our attention.
Yet nothing, absolutely nothing, could compare with the infectious energy and toe-tapping musicality of the stage performance of “Naatu Naatu” by Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava. The song and dance on stage brought to the world a joyful and electrifying representation of India and its artverse, that transcends linguistic and geographic barriers to infuse the world with its sheer energy and the grandeur of vision.
As an indie filmmaker, I had watched “RRR” before any of its global recognition and was completely struck by the audacity of the filmmaker in stretching our imaginations beyond what is reasonable, what is achievable and what is feasible. The film was packed with all aspects of entertainment and symbolism painting our memoryscapes with some mesmerizing visuals, be it a tiger leaping onto actor NTR Jr. or the Michelangelo-inspired moment of the outstretched arms of the two protagonists, who are swinging under a burning bridge to save a child. We are witnessing a legend in the making in S.S. Rajamouli, the visionary filmmaker behind “RRR” and an irrefutable tour de force in global cinema.
While it was indeed “the pride of every Indian” to see M.M. Keeravani celebrate his Oscar award for the best original song, “Naatu Naatu,” with a play on the Carpenters song, “Top of the world,” it was also surreal to see a lyricist from India, Chandrabose, stand on the stage with his golden statue and getting to say the last word before the music started. The word mattered because it represented the grace and humility personified by each of these creatives. Namaste — I bow to you.
Most memorable for me was seeing so many Indian women and women from our diaspora take to the stage and make it their own with their confidence, calm and charm, setting an example for all others pursuing their technicolor dreams. I cannot shake off the childlike glee I felt in seeing the, now, two-time Oscar award-winning producer, Guneet Monga, strut up the stage in a vibrant sari. She and Kartiki accepted the award for the Best Short Documentary, “The Elephant Whisperer.”
The talented and ethereal Deepika Padukone, recognized and followed by billions of fans of Indian cinema the world over, introduced the performance of the Indian song with a distinctly Indian flair and unparalleled confidence. She owned the moment and dazzled while doing so. Mindy Kaling gracefully shouldered the task of representing Indian Americans on the Oscar stage and Lilly Singh, as a self-described “chic Barney,” co-hosted the countdown to the Oscars.
The talented and ethereal Deepika Padukone, recognized and followed by billions of fans of Indian cinema the world over, introduced the performance of the Indian song with a distinctly Indian flair and unparalleled confidence.
I have been a screenwriter for just a few years and was naturally intrigued by the screenplays nominated for the awards under the original and adapted categories. There was no surprise that the simple idea of putting Daniel Kwan’s mother in a matrix-like world won Daniels their first screenwriting award for original screenplay. What I was thrilled about was Sarah Polley’s win for “Women Talking” in the Best Adapted Screenplay category. While that film is set in the past, many of the issues raised and discussed, continue to be relevant today and continue to demand the courage of women to protect their rights.
The Best Short Film category celebrated the reconciliation of two brothers after the passing of their mother, in “The Irish Goodbye.” When I, a mother of two, caught up on the Oscar-nominated shorts this year, I was with a friend who is also a mother. We could barely manage a shrug after watching this delightfully painful film. What remained unsaid between us is what remains unsaid before the passing of anyone’s mother. Say it, do it, be it — before it doesn’t matter to her anymore. And the rediscovery of joy in the lives of the protagonists of the film was aptly celebrated with a birthday song to mark the special day for the actor, James Martin.
No discussion of the night would be complete without mentioning the unseen shard of the invisible ceiling that was shattered with ease by the incomparable Michelle Yeoh, as she became the first Asian woman to win the Best Actor — Female, in the history of the Academy Awards. Unimaginable as it may be, the largest continent on the planet, with the largest population in our world, has remained significantly underrepresented for way too long. I stand here in awe of all those who have persevered and persisted to bring us this historic moment. What is even more remarkable is the fact that she accomplished this at a stage in her life when most actresses have been written off. In her words, “Ladies, don’t let anyone ever tell you, you are past your prime.” And that resonates.
Shruti Tewari is an Indian American screenwriter, director and actor from the Bay Area. After appearing in over two dozen projects ranging from a Bollywood blockbuster to award-winning independent films, she took to writing stories about immigrant experiences. Her scripts have been placed at numerous screenwriting competitions including the Austin Film Festival, WeScreenplay Diverse Voices Lab and Big Apple Film Festival. A recipient of the Silver Remi Award from WorldFest Houston, her short films continue to garner laurels worldwide. Her latest foray into filmmaking “Stain Resistant,” is a female-forward film about overcoming suppressed trauma. She was awarded a Certificate of Honor by the City and County of San Francisco for making a positive impact through the arts, in mentoring at-risk youth.