By Subhash K Jha

Paresh Mokashi whose Marathi film Harishchandrachi Factory has been selected as India's official entry into the Oscars, is stuck without a visa to the US.

The reason given to him? The US consulate in Mumbai didn't know who he was, was not aware of his film getting an Oscar nomination.

Laughed, the unassuming director commented, "I don't really blame them. I didn't have a face that was instantly recognizable. They didn't know who I was. And I had no papers to prove that this disoriented looking man had made a film that had been sent to the Oscars."

Paresh had no papers, not even a letter from the Academy Awards committee to prove his eligibility for a visa. All the documents were with his producers UTV.

"Whatever initimation I received about the Oscar entry from the US I handed over to UTV. But of course the US consulate didn't say I was lying. They rightly felt I was not eligible until I had the documents.

This was my first encounter for an American visa. And naturally my first trip to the US. The only time I've been abroad is to London to shoot a part of Hrishchandrachi Factory.

So I was completely unaware of how things work. I don't know how to handle it, "said the unassuming director who had to mortgage his property to make the film.

UTV had to step in to rescue the director who needed to be in LA from 2 November.

Said Paresh, "The US consulate has promised to give me a visa after taking my passport. They said they'd grant me a visa. Let's see. They had yet to decide for how long and in what capacity They seem to have a very thin line dividing the people who want to visit for genuine reasons from those who are wrongly motivated."

Paresh Mokashi hopes to be in the US for 25 days in November to promote the film for the Oscars. "I need to understand the situation. I've never been to the Oscars, have no idea of how the Oscars work. I also need to be back for the film's release in India. Then I return to the US to be with the film till the Oscars."

Cutting down reports that Aamir Khan's Lagaan expertise at the Oscars will be applied to Harishchandrachi Factory Paresh says, "He is a friend. But finally you're on your own."