In 2019, India nominated Zoya Akhtar’s musical drama Gully Boy for the Oscars for Best International Film after receiving appreciation both nationally and internationally many film enthusiasts and critics surveyed asked why they did not choose the Tamil masterpiece Super Deluxe directed by Thiyagarajan Kumar Raj. One of the strongest critics of the decision was Vijay Sethupathi, lead actor of Super Deluxe, who voiced his opinion on what he considers to be a missed opportunity for Indian cinema on the global stage
The Gully Boy vs. Super Deluxe Debate
When Gully Boy was announced as India’s official Oscar entry, the decision sparked controversy across the country. The Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt starrer was hailed for portraying the rise of a street rapper in Mumbai and the hip-hop subculture in India but many critics said Super Deluxe was a dark multi-layered story exploring issues of identity, moral and social values f are more appropriate choices for status
Vijay Sethupathi, one of India’s finest actors, starred in Super Deluxe, where he portrayed Shilpa, a transgender woman struggling to get back to her family and her performance was praised that it’s one of the best of his career, most critically acclaimed for it’s nuanced portrayal of a complex character. With his bold storyline, Sethupathy’s involvement in the film convinced many that Super Deluxe would have hit international audiences more.
Vijay Sethupathi’s thoughts on his Oscar nomination
Talking about the decision to nominate Gully Boy instead of Super Deluxe for the Oscars, Vijay Sethupathi expressed his disappointment not because of the spirit of competition but on artistic merit in an interview, he said that, “I was shattered, but it’s politics. We know that something happened. It’s not because I was in that film. Even if I were not in that film, I would’ve wanted that film to go there. Something happened in between and I don’t want to talk about that. It’s unnecessary.”
Why Super Deluxe stood out
Directed by Thiagarajan Kumar Raj, Super Deluxe was a bold, experimental film that covered many interconnected subjects, dealing with such taboo subjects as sex, pornography, infidelity, and religion beliefs and was hailed as the latest and most inspiring film to come out of India in cinema in recent years.
The film had a stellar cast including Vijay Sethupathi, Samantha Akkineni, Fahadh Faisil and Ramyakrishnan, all of whom gave strong performances but it was Sethupathi’s portrayal of his art that stood out. Her sensitive, humane portrayal of transgender people broke stereotypes in mainstream Indian cinema and received critical acclaim.
For many, Super Deluxe represented a growing desire for Indian cinema to challenge social norms and address previously taboo subjects. Critics felt that this bold approach was consistent with the Academy’s focus on films that focused on diversity, social commentary and unique perspectives
A missed opportunity?
Vijay Sethupathi wasn’t the only one who thought Super Deluxe could be a strong Oscar contender. Many film critics and even industry insiders have voiced their opinion that India has missed the opportunity to showcase a truly original film on a global scale. It was pointed out that although Gully Boy was a well-made film, it followed a traditional story structure, while Super Deluxe offered something completely different and innovative, which should have stood out in the competitive Oscar race in
A common argument in favor of Super Deluxe is that it’s not only an artistically worthy film but that it was a film that dealt with universal issues in an unconventional way Its complex story, the characters the difficulty and formidable way of dealing with taboo subjects made it a film that transcended language and cultural barriers It made it appealing
Looking ahead
Indian cinema becoming increasingly popular. Despite the Oscar snub, Super Deluxe is still celebrated as a cult classic. It has been recognized at international film festivals and frequently mentioned in discussions on the development of Indian cinema. Vijay Sethupathi’s frustration with the selection process is a reflection of a bigger issue in the representation of Indian cinema on a global platform — the need to push films that break all of Indian storytelling and cache
Sethupathi’s comments are a reminder that while commercial success is important, films that push boundaries and challenge norms should also be given due attention As Indian cinema continues to evolve and experiment with new narratives look at it, we hope to get more movies like Super Deluxe.
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