This Saturday, I finally managed to catch Water at INOX Bangalore. Certainly above-average surrounded by controvery and hype alike. I am still tempted to tag it under cinematic brilliance, the subject being quite raw and pure makes life more difficult for she who perched herself in the director's seat. Besides, Lisa Ray is no Nandita Das, and the fact that Mehta extracted a commendable performance speaks a lot. Personally, I have my doubts if Water is Oscar material, especially in the the elite space it shared with the best, and my personal favorite, Pan's Labyrinth.

Which brings me to a night in the year I detested until they finally, *finally*, gave Marty what he rightly deserved - an Oscar.

In fact, four.

And about time too, although my overwhelming fanatism for the Departed wished that Mark Wahlberg would get the Best Supporting Actor. It didn't happen, maybe his lines overshadowed the performance. Sigh.

India has fished for an Oscar for some time now. Salaam Bombay was beyond my time, so I'm limited to the Lagaans and what-not that made the Khans and others share space with names like Spielberg. Personally, India's best attempt at the Oscars, in my opinion, was the Little Terrorist, a short film that ought to be taken forward into a full-fledged motion picture, and I'm quite sure it has the substance to last two-odd hours.

Didn't happen.

The people behind Water shouldn't be disheartened at the loss. The emotionally-driven race that we are, the thought-provoking Water staying afloat at the box-office is half an Oscar, right there.

Agree? Think otherwise? Comments are now open.