``An Indian academy can be set up in a year,'' he said, speaking to The Indian Express. It would have to be refined as the United States did not have the complication of several Indian languages. ``But there's absolutely no question, an Indian academy would have to have the biggest producers and the biggest stars,'' Davis emphasised, citing AMPAS's stringent `Film credits of a calibre which reflect the high standards of the academy.' A few years ago, AMPAS helped set up a similar academy in Spain.

He's not sure how it will help Bollywood, but he can elaborate how it helped Hollywood.``By preventing film makers from forgetting that cinema was an art form.'' So even though the silliest comedies and the most violent films would continue to be made, the quest for something as prestigious as the Oscars would ensure that quality films were continuously made. Davis, who taught drama as a college professor for 15 years before joining the academy, has seen the films of Satyajit Ray who he calls `very western' in his approach. But he feels mainstream Hindi cinema wouldn't be acceptable to US audiences, yet. ``Musical interludes in a serious picture would be puzzling to US audiences.''

But he's lavish in his praise for Shekhar Kapur's Elizabeth. ``Stunning. Forceful. A magnificent piece of film making that's going to get Indian film makers attention in Hollywood.'' Ask him about its chances for the Oscars whose nominations are to be announced on February 9, and he's understandably circumspect. ``Well, people who write say its chances are very good.''

But the 72-year old academy's seventhexecutive director has something bigger playing on his mind. Bringing the Oscars back to Hollywood, for instance. ``Hollywood no longer has the glitter and glamour it once had since the decline of the studio system,'' he says. Over the years, except for a single film studio, practically everyone else has moved out.

Davis hopes to change that with a mammoth 3,700-seater auditorium costing $ 390 million under construction in Hollywood. It will host the Academy Awards from 2001 onwards. So it's goodbye to the Dorothy Chandler pavilion this year and the Shrine the year after that.

Special effects wizard Richard Edlund, who was also there for the awards nite, called AMPAS `The Vatican of moviebiz.' And the pride in Davis' voice when he talks about the institution he joined 17 years ago, is palpable.``There is a genuine respect for the academy that caught me when I came to work here,'' he says. ``People question our taste but never our integrity.'' The only hiccups he can recollect are when Madonna performedher `Sooner or later..' act from Dick Tracy live for the awards. A technician who was to activate a pop-up mike on stage fell asleep. ``Madonna later let us know in colourful terms what she felt,'' Davis laughs. And finally, in the run-up to the Oscars, why is it that only actors portraying physically or mentally challenged characters get Best Actor Oscars? ``Because we're looking for actors who portray a range of emotions, get a bit out of control. For instance, James Bond would never get an award because he's always totally in control,'' Davis replies.