Filmmaker Hansal Mehta responded to Film Federation of India (FFI) head Jahnu Barua calling Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light ‘very poor technically’ in a recent interview. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Mehta reacted to a person’s tweet talking about Barua’s comment.

A X user tweeted, “Jahnnu Barua is not some random masala filmmaker. I still cannot figure out why he said what he said. I was shocked to hear his views.”

Jahnnu Barua is not some random masala filmmaker. I still cannot figure why he said what he said. I was shocked to hear his views.
— KJM (@StrategyisLove) December 19, 2024

Reacting to it, Hansal Mehta wrote on his X account, “It is indeed disappointing to hear. I was asked to be on this jury several times, including this time. But I’d rather stay away than have to pretend that all these choices are free of external pressures and only based on merit. Besides, I refuse to accept that FFI can decide these things, including selection of juries.”

It is indeed disappointing to hear. I was asked to be on this jury several times including this time. But I’d rather stay away than have to pretend that all these choices are free of external pressures and only based on merit. Besides I refuse to accept that FFI can decide these… https://t.co/9WWXyPsVSv
— Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) December 19, 2024

Earlier, a person tweeted reacting to Barua’s comment, “LOL. It’s okay, you made a blunder; it is normal for you. I would now request that you sit back and relax until the next one.” Hansal Mehta replied, “He must explain what ‘technically poor’ means.”

LOL. it’s okay, you made a blunder; it is normal for you. i would now request that you sit back and relax until the next one. pic.twitter.com/wrirp5agcM
— Anas Arif (@thefilmykid) December 19, 2024

He must explain what ‘technically poor’ means. https://t.co/wnZK8YR8z2
— Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) December 19, 2024

For those who don’t know, recently, Barua spoke with Hindustan Times about Laapataa Ladies not being able to make it to the Academy’s official shortlist. He also reacted when said that a section of people felt Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light could have been a better pick.

Barua said, “People need to understand that it was a democratic process that one has to go through. And the country needs to accept whatever the verdict is. The jury felt that the films which have gone to the Oscars in the last few years lacked Indian-ness. A film needs to represent the nation. We felt that Laapataa Ladies had all the right elements, and presented the social chaos we go through brilliantly.” Talking about All We Imagine As Light, Barua said, “The jury felt that her film was very poor technically.”

In September, the FFI, led by Barua, selected Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies as India’s official entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards. It was selected from a list of 29 films in several Indian languages, including Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light, and the National Award-winning Aattam. Meanwhile, All We Imagine As Light has been nominated for Golden Globes in two categories: Best International Feature, and Best Director.

See Also: FFI Jury Head Defends Laapataa Ladies As India’s Oscar Entry; Calls All We Imagine As Light Technically ‘Poor’