Munnabhai's tryst with Oscars began with a screening held at the University of South California last week.

Sanjay Dutt starrer 'Lage Raho Munnabhai' which is competing in the main category for the Best Film at the Academy awards, was screened before a capacity audience at the Frank Sinatra Auditorium on October 27 to a rapturous response, producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra told reporters here.

Students and faculty of the university clapped for minutes after the screening. A lively question answer session followed with director Raj Kumar Hirani, writer Abhijat Joshi and myself, he recalled.

Chopra said almost all questions were prefixed with heartfelt praise for the film, with one member of the audience pointing out that the film was in the tradition of great films of Charlie Chaplin in its capacity to make people laugh and cry.

Gurinder Chaddha, director of 'Bend It like Beckham' and 'Bhaaji on the Beach', attended the screening and spoke glowingly about the film, Chopra informed.

UTV produced 'Rang De Basanti' is, however, India's official entry into the foreign film category.

Both 'Rang De Basanti' and 'Lage Raho Munnabhai' are this year's biggest box office grossers as well critically acclaimed movies.