Ten Indian Films Competing for Oscars 2025 Amid Diverse Global Entries

Feature and Cover Ten Indian Films Competing for Oscars 2025 Amid Diverse Global Entries

India’s official entry for the 2025 Oscars, Laapataa Ladies, failed to make it to the Best Picture shortlist. However, the nation still boasts a strong presence at this prestigious event, with ten films bearing Indian connections competing in various categories. This includes eight Indian films among Oscar-qualifying titles, a Hindi movie shortlisted for the International Feature Film category, and a short film, Anuja, in contention for Live Action Short Film.

Indian Films in the Oscars 2025 Race

Out of ten films connected to India, one is the UK’s official entry to the Oscars. Santosh, a British production, made the shortlist for Best International Feature Film, while Anuja was shortlisted for Live Action Short Film. The remaining Indian films feature on the Academy’s reminder list, which includes hundreds of titles eligible for this year’s nominations.

Globally, 323 feature films qualified for Oscar consideration, though only 207 can compete for Best Picture due to additional eligibility requirements.

Eligibility for Best Picture

According to the Academy’s rules, motion pictures must run longer than 40 minutes and be released in 35mm or 70mm formats. They need to screen in specific U.S. cities—Los Angeles, New York, Bay Area, Dallas-Fort Worth, Chicago, and Atlanta—three times daily for at least seven consecutive days. Moreover, producers or distributors must submit an official application for eligibility, alongside meeting technical specifications for audio and visuals.

The ten Indian-linked films vying for Oscars 2025 are:

  1. Swatantrya Veer Savarkar
  1.  Randeep Hooda’s directorial debut, Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, explores the life of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, a significant figure in India’s freedom struggle. While the narrative highlights key moments of Savarkar’s activism, critics have noted its overly dramatic tone. An impressive cast, including Amit Sial, Rajesh Khera, Brajesh Jha, Mrinal Dutt, and Ankita Lokhande, helps elevate this otherwise uneven period drama.
  1. Girls Will Be Girls

Directed by Shuchi Talati, Girls Will Be Girls delves into female sexuality and coming-of-age themes, steering away from societal expectations. Instead, it focuses on the perspectives and desires of its female protagonists. Kani Kusruti and Preeti Panigrahi’s portrayal of a mother-daughter duo lends emotional depth to the story. The film earned accolades at the Sundance Film Festival and MAMI Mumbai Film Festival.

  1. Santosh

Sandhya Suri’s Hindi-language crime drama, Santosh, set in Uttar Pradesh, has been shortlisted for Best International Feature Film. Featuring Shahana Goswami as a widowed police officer, the film has won awards at the National Board of Review, Tokyo FILMeX, and British Independent Film Festival. It was also nominated in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard category and recognized at the BFI London Film Festival and European Film Awards.

  1. Putul

Putul, a directorial debut by Indira Dhar, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2024. With performances by Sujan Mukherjee, Tanusree Shankar, Indroneel Mukherjee, and Mumtaz Sorcar, the film marks Dhar’s first venture as both director and producer. The music, composed by Arghyakamal Mitra and Sayan Ganguly, enhances the narrative.

  1. Aadujeevitham: The Goat Life

Blessy’s adaptation of Benyamin’s acclaimed novel, Aadujeevitham, narrates the harrowing journey of a Malayali migrant laborer in the Gulf. Despite facing bans in certain Gulf nations, the film won recognition at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards and Kerala State Film Awards.

  1. All We Imagine As Light

Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light is an Indo-French production featuring Kani Kusruti, Chhaya Kadam, and Divya Prabha. Although it didn’t become India’s official Oscar entry, the film earned critical acclaim, winning the Grand Prix at Cannes. Garnering awards from the New York Film Critics Circle and National Board of Review, it also secured Golden Globe nominations and remains a strong contender for Best Picture.

  1. Band of Maharajas

Directed by Girish Malik, Band of Maharajas stars Shraddha Pandey, Arun Bajwa, and Kuwarjeet Chopraa.

  1. Kanguva

Starring Tamil actor Suriya alongside Bollywood stars Bobby Deol and Disha Patani, Kanguva depicts the struggles of a tribal warrior. Directed by Siva, the film faced initial criticism for excessive audio effects, leading to a re-edited version. Supporting actors KS Ravikumar, Yogi Babu, and Redin Kingsley contribute to the narrative.

  1. The Zebras

Aneek Chaudhuri’s The Zebras features Sharib Hashmi and Priyanka Sarkar in significant roles. It is competing in categories such as Best Director, Best Cinematography, and Best Original Screenplay.

  1. Anuja

The short film Anuja, backed by producers Guneet Monga and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, is directed by Adam J. Graves and Suchitra Mattai. Set in Delhi, it has been shortlisted for the Live Action Short Film category.

Upcoming in Oscars 2025

The Academy initially planned to announce the 2025 Oscar nominations on January 17. However, due to California wildfires, the voting period and announcement date were shifted to January 19. The awards ceremony will take place on March 2 in a live event.

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