Mumbai:
Salim Ahmed, whose debut directorial Adaminte Makan Abu (Abu, Son of Adam) is India's official entry for Oscars next year in the foreign language category, says that the low-budget film stands a good chance of bringing home the trophy because of its universal theme.
The Malayalam film won four National Awards this year, including the Best Film and the Best Director trophy for Ahmed, who is putting up funds to begin lobbying for the film in the US.
Ahmed, who left his day job as a travel agent to direct the movie about a poor perfume seller's struggle to go to Haj, however, says that he has not been able to get any help either from the Malayalam film industry or the government.
"We will begin lobbying for the film next week. There has been some help from abroad, especially from the people living in the Gulf region. No one from the Malayalam film industry has contacted me or offered support. There has been no support from the government either," said Ahmed, whose film was screened at the ongoing Mumbai Film Festival.
Adaminte Makan Abu is one of the 63 films in the run for a nomination in the Best Foreign Language film category for the 84th Annual Academy Awards to be held in February next year.
The director says that while working as a travel agent he experienced the struggle of people going to Mecca and was inspired to document it in a movie.
The movie, written, directed and co-produced by Ahmed, is a family drama starring Salim Kumar and Zarina Wahab.
Kumar and Wahab sell all their belongings but are not able to collect enough money for Haj. Abu (Kumar) even cuts off the tree in front of his house. Later, he regrets his selfish act and plants a sapling and prays at a mosque on the Haj morning.
Bollywood, which has been looking to South to reproduce good stories, is interested in remaking the film in Hindi, Ahmed said without revealing names.
The director said his next film would be an historical drama.
The Malayalam film won four National Awards this year, including the Best Film and the Best Director trophy for Ahmed, who is putting up funds to begin lobbying for the film in the US.
Ahmed, who left his day job as a travel agent to direct the movie about a poor perfume seller's struggle to go to Haj, however, says that he has not been able to get any help either from the Malayalam film industry or the government.
"We will begin lobbying for the film next week. There has been some help from abroad, especially from the people living in the Gulf region. No one from the Malayalam film industry has contacted me or offered support. There has been no support from the government either," said Ahmed, whose film was screened at the ongoing Mumbai Film Festival.
Adaminte Makan Abu is one of the 63 films in the run for a nomination in the Best Foreign Language film category for the 84th Annual Academy Awards to be held in February next year.
The director says that while working as a travel agent he experienced the struggle of people going to Mecca and was inspired to document it in a movie.
The movie, written, directed and co-produced by Ahmed, is a family drama starring Salim Kumar and Zarina Wahab.
Kumar and Wahab sell all their belongings but are not able to collect enough money for Haj. Abu (Kumar) even cuts off the tree in front of his house. Later, he regrets his selfish act and plants a sapling and prays at a mosque on the Haj morning.
Bollywood, which has been looking to South to reproduce good stories, is interested in remaking the film in Hindi, Ahmed said without revealing names.
The director said his next film would be an historical drama.
