India has four entries, including one for “Chhello Show” for best international film and “Naatu Naatu” from blockbuster “RRR” in the music (original song) categories, in the Oscar shortlist announced on Thursday. In addition to the Gujarati film and the popular Telugu song, “All That Breathes” was shortlisted for feature documentary and “The Elephant Whisperers” shortlisted for documentary, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced.
This is perhaps the first time that India has been shortlisted for four Oscars, the pre-nominations stage. Shortlists were announced in 10 categories: Documentary Feature Film, Documentary Short Film, International Feature Film, Makeup and Hair, Music (Original Score), Music (Original Song), Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film, Sound and Visual Effects .
Each shortlist has 10 to 15 applicants. The final nominations for the 95th Academy Awards will be announced on January 24, and the awards ceremony will take place on March 12 in Los Angeles. Directed by Pan Nalin and produced by Siddharth Roy Kapur and Dheer Momaya, ‘Chhello Show’ (titled ‘Last Film Show’ in English) is India’s official entry to the Academy Awards. It is a coming-of-age story about a young boy’s love affair with a cinema in a Saurashtra village.
“We would like to thank FFI, the millions of people who watched and admired the ‘Chhello Show’ and also our international distributors who gave the film the boost it deserved. This is a historic moment for India and we hope to bring the Oscar home soon,” Kapur, Momaya and Nalin said in a joint statement. Only three Indian films in the history of the Oscars have found a mention in the top five of the international film category (formerly called foreign language): “Lagaan” (2001), “Salaam Bombay!” (1988) and “Mother India” (1957).
According to the academy’s official website, the “Chhello Show” will compete with 14 films, including “Argentina, 1985” (Argentina), “The Decision to Leave” (South Korea), “Quiet on the Western Front” (Germany) and “Close” (Belgium). As part of the Music (Original Song) Oscars shortlist, “Naatu Naatu” will compete with 14 songs. These include “Nothing Is Lost (You Give Me Strength)” from “Avatar: The Way of Water”, “Lift Me Up” from “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and “Carolina” from “Where the Crawdads Sing”. “It’s here… #NaatuNaatu becomes the first Indian song to be shortlisted for an Oscar! THANK YOU everyone for supporting us on our journey,” the makers said in a statement shared on the official “RRR” Twitter page.
