Aamir asks for more effective selection process for Oscars

Shilpa Jamkhandikar

Mumbai (Reuters) - Aamir Khan's directorial debut film "Taare Zameen Par" may be the country's official entry to the Oscars, but the actor feels a more effective selection process would give Indian films a better chance of earning the final nomination.

India's selection process for the Oscars has been under the scanner in the past, with film maker Bhavna Talwar taking the decision making body, Film Federation of India (FFI), to court last year, saying the process was biased and flawed.

Following the controversy, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences asked India to reconfirm its official entry. In a letter to the Indian selection committee, it also said the FFI should have better judging standards.

"Certainly if we can make it more foolproof, more stringent, it will only be better. We should have people who are aware of cinema (in the jury)," Khan told reporters on Monday.

This year, the FFI said all guidelines had been followed to make sure the decision was fair, but Khan said the process could be honed further.

"If any year we feel that there is no good film worth sending we should not send an entry. So the members of the academy realise that the film coming from India would be good. That's the kind of standard and calibre we should create," he added.

"Taare Zameen Par" is the story of a dyslexic boy, struggling to come to terms with the learning disorder and his relationship with his teacher, played by Khan.

Besides, "Taare Zameen Par", Aamir's three other films, "Rang De Basanti", "Lagaan" and "1947-Earth" have been sent to the Oscars.