Shoojit Sircar reacts to Sardar Udham not being India's official entry to the Oscars for inciting 'hatred towards the British'

Shoojit Sircar’s latest offering Sardar Udham has managed to stir deep emotions in the audience and after its digital release this month, the film quickly gained recognition as one of the films shortlisted by the Indian jury to send as India’s official entry to the Oscars but sadly the film was not the chosen one.

One of the reasons cited by the jury for holding off Sardar Udham from being India’s official Oscar entry was that the film projected ‘hatred towards the British’ through its portrayal of Sardar Udham Singh’s story who avenged the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Another reason cited was the length of the project.

Filmmaker Shoojit Sircar has now reacted to the jury’s decision of withholding Sardar Udham and upheld it despite the reasons which seem to have incited the disappointment of many fans.  Speaking o News 18 on the matter Shoojit said, “It is a personal opinion, it is very subjective, I have no comment on that. I respect the jury and their decision. The film that was finally selected, I know about it, and I am glad that it was chosen. I go by the jury’s decision.”

While Vidya Balan starrer Sherni and Vicky Kaushal starrer Sardar Udham were in the running to be India’s official entry to the Oscars, the jury selected the Tamil film Koozhangal helmed by filmmaker Vinothraj PS for the international award.