Sunday, May 1 2005 13:16 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Not a mere introspection, but only a "brutally" honest one by the Indian tinsel world can lift their standards to make further inroads into international arena, says Nandita Das, a recent entrant among acclaimed Jurors of the prestigious Cannes Film Festival.

With Indian cinema, particularly the Bollywood potboilers, becoming increasingly popular among the Diaspora, Nandita feels that it is high time to explore all possible ranges of the 100-year-old medium, both in its form and content.

"I think we should be brutally honest and ask ourselves whether the films we make are worth for this level of international platform, like the Cannes," Nandita, who treaded a 'parallel' path in Indian celluloid, said in United States.

The actress, who shot into fame with her portrayal of a lesbian in Deepa Mehta's 'Fire,' says that certain films, which had shown "great sensitivity and artistic expression", were overlooked.

"Some times, those behind the camera were unable to go through the process that is required for submission and acceptance in film festivals of international importance," Nandita, who became the second Indian actress to become a jury member at Cannes after Aishwarya Rai last year (2004), said.

But, she thinks, "It was not lack of money, talent or stories that stop us from producing masterpieces now a days."

For Nandita, the invitation to the jury is a validation f the choices she made in her artistic and social life.

"Once the news sunk in, I was feeling that it was a validation of the choices I made. My decisions of doing selective films, not just in Hindi but in regional languages also, not living a life of an actress etc were often seen as wrong choices, even by many of my well wishers," Nandita says.

"But I was happy that I had at least made those choices for honest reasons," the daughter of famous painter Jatin Das says.

The actress, who is on a whirlwind tour in US delivering talks at Cornell University, presenting her film 'Bawander' and acting in a short film by a Pakistani friend, said she always followed her heart and done what felt right.

A pleasantly surprised Nandita could not believe when Cannes Film Festival Director Christian Juene sought her consent for being a part of the nine-member jury chaired by renowned filmmaker Emir Kusturica and which have members like American novelist Tony Morrison and Hollywood actress Salma Hayek.

Looking forward to the interactions with eminent filmakers and artists, she said the Cannes would provide her an opportunity to get in touch with different perspectives through which film is judged and evaluated.

Although Cannes is "full of glamour and glitz," Nandita's focus will remain on her responsibility as a juror and not to get "bogged down by other trappings and the baggage that comes with the media attention that such occasions generate."