The In Memoriam Video played at the Oscars last evening made no mention of three of the most important actors who died in 2020. While Irrfan did get a mention—and should we be grateful for that?—leaving out Rishi Kapoor, Sushant Singh Rajput and Soumitra Chatterjee is unforgivable.
Soumitra is a specially glaring omission. If it is an international link that the Oscars were looking for , it can’t get any more international for Indian cinema than Soumitrada who was Satyajit Ray’s constant actor in a majority of his most globally celebrated film including Apur Sansar, Devi,Charulata and Ghaire Bhaire.
Therefore to not acknowledge the passing of one of India’s greatest actors is to not acknowledge the cinema of Satyajit Ray.
As for Rishi Kapoor I can just him smirking from up there at this omission . During his entire career he was used to getting sidelined for his contribution. In fact Rishi felt all the Kapoors did not get their dues.
