Bharati Dubey

Friday, March 22, witnessed a cocktail and dinner reception at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences where all the five nominated directors for Best Foreign were given citations for their nominations.

Michael Mann (Director of Last Of The Mohnicans, Heat and the recent Ali) presented a citation to Ashutosh Gowariker, director of Lagaan. Mann described Lagaan as "audacious and exuberant. Take Dr Zhivago, add Sound Of Music to it and have a four-hour long party."

This is what Ashutosh said, when he received the citation:

"It feels great to be sharing this stage with Mr Michael Mann. It [the citation] is a great honour. On behalf of my producer Aamir Khan, the entire cast and crew of Lagaan and my country, I would like to thank the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences and the Members of the Jury for honouring our film with a nomination in the Best Foreign Language Film category.

"Since the Academy comprises the American film fraternity, I consider this nomination to be an acknowledgement and appreciation of my craft by my American counterparts. Thank you very much!"