Here are the Indian films that have been shortlisted for the Oscars 2023 –
(This list includes the qualifiers, but the films still have to battle 301 others to make it to the final cut though!)
RRR
The SS Rajamouli directorial starring Ram Charan and Jr NTR has been a raging success at the box office and received global acclaim as well. The film crossed a whopping ₹1,200 crore (US$175 million) worldwide.
Gangubai Kathiawadi
The Alia Bhatt starrer, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, was a major success in 2022. Based on Mafia Queens of Mumbai by S Hussain Zaidi and Jane Borges, it was a rousing tale about the rise in the power of a brothel queen. It was a commercial success with a ₹209.77 crore collection.
The Kashmir Files
‘The Kashmir Files’ was the harrowing tale of the mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in the year 1990 following systematic killings of people from the community by Pakistan-backed terrorists. The film made 340.92 crores worldwide!
Kantara
The Kannada action thriller Kantara starring Rishab Shetty in the lead -revolved around a young tribal donning the traditions of his ancestors to seek justice. Kantara crossed 400 crores emerging as a blockbuster in 2022.
Rocketry: The Nambi Effect
Written, produced and directed by R Madhavan, ‘Rocketry: The Nambi Effect’ is the biopic of Nambi Narayanan – an ISRO scientist who was wrongly accused of treason. Rocketry made 50 crores at the box office, but it received critical acclaim widely.
Me Vasantrao
It is the biographical film based on the life of the Indian classical musician Vasantrao Deshpande. The film has received 2 National Awards as well. Vasantrao Deshpande’s grandson Rahul played the titular role.
Chhello Show (The Last Film Show)
The Chhello Show is India’s official Oscar entry in the Foreign Film category. It is about a nine-year-old cinema lover Samay who moves heaven and earth in pursuit of his 35mm dreams, unaware of the heartbreaking times that await him.
- Some other Indian films that also made it to the shortlist – the Marathi film Tujhya Sathi Kahi Hi, the Tamil thriller Iravin Nizhal and lastly Sudeep starrer Vikrant Rona!