There is little doubt that Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Black" is the movie event of the moment. Eyebrows were raised when its release date was shifted from Dec 24 to more than a month later, and now the buzz is that there is a further postponement.

But Sanjay Bhansali dismisses the suggestion outright. "No way! I am not moving ahead at all. Why should 'Black' be pushed forward? We moved forward by a month only because the mixing, which is a very important part of the theme's impact, wasn't done. Also, I wanted to release Monty's fabulous background music a bit before the film's release. Yashraj Music will be releasing the music album of 'Black' a week before the film opens all over the world with around 400 prints."

Yashraj Films has taken on the overseas distribution of "Black". Apparently, the Chopras have big plans about pitching the Amitabh Bachchan-Rani Mukherjee starrer as an international product -- targeting not just NRIs but also a more global audience which would've no problem empathising with the universal emotions that "Black" projects in such a cosmopolitan language.

Though an album of Monty's exquisite background sounds is being released -- and that would include a song "Han maine chukar dekha hai" sung by Gayatri Iyer -- there are no songs in the film.

Explains Bhansali: "It's true that unlike 'Devdas', 'Black' isn't rooted to Bollywood traditions of songs, dances and flamboyant emotions. The emotions of 'Black' are more universal. It talks about a physically and emotionally damaged girl and her relationship with the man who comes forward to help her grow as a human being. To that extent, yes... 'Black' is more internationally pitched."

Yashraj Films have recognised the potential in "Black" to break through as the first truly international Bollywood effort. Every effort is being made to carry the film forward to organisations and film persons abroad who would make "Black" India's first truly internationally film.

Will it achieve that crossover?

"I don't know about that. But I do know Indian cinema can't get any more articulate, sensitive and beautiful than 'Black'," says the film's leading man Amitabh Bachchan.

"Every frame is a work of art. Every moment is a blessing. Every feeling is so unique and lucid, you want to live within it forever... And yet 'Black' moves forward so quickly it just doesn't give audiences a chance to sit back for even a second."

Though "Black" has taken Bhansali to a totally different territory from "Devdas", it is by no means a 'small' or 'intimate' film.

"Not at all!" exclaims Bachchan. "The emotions here are different. But the narration is driven by the same kinetic urgency as 'Devdas'. Audiences just don't get a moment of breathing space in the film."

It's this quality of unrelenting tension that Yashraj Films hopes to use as a device to get "Black" into the shortlist for the Oscars.

Will it finally do what "Lagaan" couldn't? Namely get an Oscar for best foreign film? "Why not? I think the chances are very bright," predicts Bachchan.