New Delhi: A 15-member jury is currently deciding which Indian film will make it to the Oscars. The jury in Kolkata is looking at 14 films from across the country to select the film that will represent India in the race for the Oscars 2022 in the International Feature category. Out of these 14 films, Vicky Kaushal starrer ‘Udham Singh’ and Vidya Balan starrer ‘Lion’ are. The lineup also has regional films including Yogi Babu-starrer Tamil film ‘Mandela’ and Martin Prakat’s Malayalam film ‘Nayattu’.
A 15-member jury will watch 14 films over the next few days at Bijoli Cinema in Bhawanipur, Kolkata. Filmmaker Shaji N Karun is the chairman of the jury. One of the 14 films will be India’s official entry at the Oscars 2022.
For those unaware of these films, ‘Sardar Udham’ is a biopic on freedom fighter Sardar Udham Singh, who assassinated the Lieutenant Governor of Punjab Michael Oshdair at the time of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. ‘Lion’ is the life story of a forest officer who has to capture a man-eating tigress in a remote village. The film deals with human-animal conflict as well as corruption.
Meanwhile, ‘Nayattu’ stars Joju George, Nimisha Sajayan and Kunchako Boban in the lead roles. The film is about three police officers who run away after being framed for murder. ‘Mandela’ by Madon Ashwin is a satire about a Barber who is seduced by politicians after it turns out that he has a deciding vote in elections.
As for the Oscars, the 94th Academy Awards will be held in Los Angeles, California in March 2022. Last year, Lijo Jose Pellissery’s critically acclaimed Malayalam film Jallikattu was India’s official entry at the Oscars.
(with agency input)