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Sixth Sense Big Loser At Oscars

J M Shenoy

Manoj Night Shyamalan had a sense of what was coming: A few hours before the Oscar ceremony began at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angles, he told reporters that his film, The Sixth Sense had tough competition and it would take a "miracle" for it to win the coveted Oscar.

But he also paused to say that the film has had a miraculous reception by the audiences worldwide.

Shyamalan, 29, attended the event with his wife Bhavana.

The Sixth Sense, which was nominated in six categories, went home without a single Oscar. It lost in major categories to American Beauty, a modestly budgeted ($ 15 million) story of a dysfunctional family in the suburbs, which has grossed a strong $ 230 million worldwide. Box-office pundits expects it to end its run with at least $ 300 million, thanks to the five Oscars it won.

Another loser in the Oscar contest, the documentary Buena Vista Social Club, also had an Indian connection. Its co-producer is Deepak Nayar, the Los Angeles-based film-maker, who recently co-produced The Million Dollar Hotel, starring Mel Gibson. But like The Sixth Sense, the documentary co-produced by Nayar has made its reputation.

Apart from rave reviews and showing at prestigious film festivals, it has also grossed a strong $ 40 million worldwide, making it one of the most successful documentaries ever.

The Sixth Sense, which has grossed about $ 288 million in America, will be available on DVD and shown on cable channel this week. It could end its theatrical run in about two weeks. Abroad, the movie has grossed more than $ 350 million, with about $ 50 million made in Japan and about $ 40 million grossed in England. Had it won a handful of major Oscars, its worldwide gross would have reached $ 700 million, Hollywood insiders say.

Now, it might end its worldwide run with about $ 660 million, making it among the top 10 films globally. The list is led by the $ 1.8 billion grossed by Titanic, followed by $ 950 million by the sequel to Jurassic Park.

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