/> It could possibly be pointed as the greatest snub Indian cinema has received on an international forum in recent years.

At the prestigious Locarno Film Festival to be held from 2 August, Bollywood cinema has been completely left out this time.

On the other hand the Toronto Film festival which follows in September has an abundance of Indian entries this time.

How does one explain this dichotomy?

"One can't explain it," asserts cine- aficionado and festival addict Sunil Doshi. "It's true that Toronto has many notable entries this time including Karan Johar's Kabhi Alvidaa Na Kehna. In fact the Toronto festival loves Mani Rathnam's cinema. They were hoping to get Mani's Guru on time."

Could the warm invitation to Bollywood in Toronto have worked against Bollywood in Locarno?

"I don't think there's a direct connection. A more likely reason why we've zero-representation at Locarno this year is because there's been a change of management at their festival.

The new people behind the festival are yet to come to grips with Bollywood's growing merit and impact," says Doshi, whose production Mixed Dooubles has just won the 'German Star Of India' award at the Stuttgart Film Festival.

While Bollywood and Indian cinema have had decent representaion at Locarno in recent years, this year's exclusion would be tantamount to a black mark for Bollywood in international circles.

Doshi disagrees. "Just see how lavishly we're represented at the Toronto. The festival is trying to build a reputation as North America's equivalent to Cannes. To that extent it's a very important festival for Bollywood.

Of course I'll attend the Toronto film festival. But I'm not going to Locarno this year. I normally go every year.

Last year Mrs Jaya Bachchan, Rituparno Ghosh and I were in Locarno with Ritu's Antar Mahal. But what's the point attending this time? I'm taking the time to go to France to research on French cinema."