Close to the limelight.

• Position: Finalentry - Interview

Look out Bollywood, there's a new CPA in town. Shreedhar "Shree" Kothari, a partner with Santa Monica-based Gumbiner Savett Inc., has a new gig after hours as a member of the board of directors of the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles. Kothari's firm has many clients in the entertainment industry, including independent production entities, film and television studios and foreign entertainment companies, so combined with his affinity for Bollywood and the silver screen, it was a pro bono match made in heaven.

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How has the Indian film community changed in the last decade?

With the digital revolution, the Indian film community began to receive tremendous opportunities. As a result, India is seeing a big demand for post-production work. The community has always had a good working relationship with Hollywood and, with the success of recent films like "Slumdog Millionaire," it has opened more doors for new opportunities. As far as the film industry, Bollywood is not far behind Hollywood in film production, and is steadily becoming a powerhouse in the global cinema market and other areas of the entertainment industry. Many projects arc either produced in India or are based on themes out of India, and are geared toward a world audience.

We all know "Slumdog Millionaire." What are other homegrown films that nurture your interest in Indian cinema?

Bollywood churns out lots of films. Most are not as popular with western audiences. Recently, though, I have noticed that these films are made with more substance to the story line. I enjoyed "Lagan" (an Oscar-nominated film in the foreign language category): an uplifting film about an ordinary man's struggle to oppose the levy assessed by the British rulers, and the route they take to oppose it. I'm waiting to see "Peepli Live," which has won the best feature film award at the Durban International Film Festival. The subject of the movie is quite serious, but depicted in a satirical way: As India moves to a more industrialized economy, farmers are committing suicide and self-serving politicians are unwilling to address it.

Do you think "Slumdog" deserved its Oscar recognition?

Absolutely. It was a very well-made film. And while I believe the film did not reveal the true side of India, nevertheless, it was superb.

Are there other Indian books you would like to appear on the silver screen?

I'm a first-generation Indian immigrant in the United States and could relate to the...