Malayalam film 'Jallikattu' is India's official entry to 2021 Oscars

Critically acclaimed Malayalam feature 'Jallikattu' has been selected as this year's official entry to Oscars from India. The film has been directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery and will compete with films from other countries to find a spot in International Feature Film category at the 93rd Academy Awards.

The announcement was made by the Film Federation of India (FFI) on Wednesday.

'Jallikattu' narrates the story of a tribe of men who come together toi stop a bull that has run amok in their village. The film was an unanimous choice from the 27 entries that FFI received which included films from Hindi, Marathi and other languages.

While speaking to a news agency, Pellissery said he is "extremely happy" that his movie has been selected for 2021 Oscars. In the past he has made critically acclaimed films like 'Angamaly Diaries' and 'Ea Ma Yau'.

"Extremely happy to know that 'Jallikattu' gained entry in the Oscar. This is a moment of happiness for all those who 'raced' for the film," the filmmaker told PTI.

The film, which derives its name from the popular-yet-controversial bull-taming event from the South, is based on a short story by Hareesh. It features actors Antony Varghese, Chemban Vinod Jose, Sabumon Abdusamad and Santhy Balachandran.
Asked if the film was a "unanimous choice", filmmaker Rahul Rawail, Chairman, Jury Board, The Film Federation of India (FFI) said 'Jallikattu' was a favourite.

"It is a film that really brings out the raw problems which are there in human beings, that is we are worse than animals," Rawail told reporters in an online press conference.

Other films that were competing for India's entry to Oscars included, 'Chhapaak', 'Shakuntala Devi', 'Chhalaang', 'Gulabo Sitabo', 'Eeb Allay Ooo!', 'The Sky is Pink', 'Bulbbul' in the Hindi language and internationally-celebrated Marathi feature 'The Disciple'.

'Jallikattu' premiered in September 2019 at the Toronto International Film Festival and received widespread critical acclaim.

So far no Indian film has won an Oscar. The last film that made to the final five in Best Foreign Film category was in 2001- Ashutosh Gowariker's 'Laagan' but lost out to 'Life Is Beautiful'.

'Mother India' (1958) and 'Salaam Bombay' (1989) are the other two Indian movies to have made it to the top five.

Last year, Zoya Akhtar's Hindi feature 'Gully Boy', starring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt, was India's entry to the Oscars but did not make it the final five.

The 2021 Oscars will be held on April 25, 2021.