The Oscars telecast on Walt Disney Co`s ABC broadcast network averaged 10.4 million viewers, less than half of the audience for last year`s ceremony, according to final Nielsen data released on Tuesday. 
 
The figure marks a record low for the film industry`s highest honors, falling 56% from the 23.6 million who tuned in last year. It follows a trend for pandemic-era live awards shows, after audiences for the most recent Emmys and Grammys also slumped to new lows.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-chloe-zhao-to-daniel-kaluuya-history-making-wins-at-this-years-oscars-380488" hreflang="en">From Chloe Zhao to Daniel Kaluuya: History making wins at this year’s Oscars</a> 
 
Preliminary figures released on Monday had estimated the Oscars audience at roughly 9.85 million (L1N2MJ21F). The data released on Tuesday included additional viewers at places such as bars and restaurants. 
 
Traditional television viewing has been on the decline in recent years as audiences turn to streaming services and social media. 
ABC said Oscars-related content generated 490 million views on TikTok and 9.5 million social interactions on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook on Sunday night.

The Oscars telecast on Walt Disney Co`s ABC broadcast network averaged 10.4 million viewers, less than half of the audience for last year`s ceremony, according to final Nielsen data released on Tuesday.

The Oscars telecast on Walt Disney Co`s ABC broadcast network averaged 10.4 million viewers, less than half of the audience for last year`s ceremony, according to final Nielsen data released on Tuesday. The figure marks a record low for the film industry`s highest honors, falling 56% from the 23.6 million who tuned in last year. It follows a trend for pandemic-era live awards shows, after audiences for the most recent Emmys and Grammys also slumped to new lows. From Chloe Zhao to Daniel Kaluuya: History making wins at this year’s Oscars Preliminary figures released on Monday had estimated the Oscars audience at roughly 9.85 million (L1N2MJ21F). The data released on Tuesday included additional viewers at places such as bars and restaurants. Traditional television viewing has been on the decline in recent years as audiences turn to streaming services and social media. ABC said Oscars-related content generated 490 million views on TikTok and 9.5 million social interactions on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook on Sunday night.

Final TV ratings for Oscars inch up to 10.4 million viewers

Hollywood actress Jodie Foster, who has taken a step back from films, says she misses the environment on the sets. 
 
"The thing that I miss the most, strangely, is just being on sets, hanging out with all the people and making a movie together," she said, reports contactmusic.com. 
 
However, she adds that when it comes to acting, she is still keen only on doing roles that matter to her. 
 
"The acting, I`m happy to do less often and only really do it when it`s something that really feels meaningful to me, where I feel like I can make a major contribution," said Jodie, who was recently seen in the film 'The Mauritanian'. 
 
Meanwhile, Foster said that she is shocked by how long her career has stretched. 
 
"I never thought I would be an actor when I grew up. My mum would say, are you going to be a lawyer or a doctor? It was never assumed I was going to be an actor. I`m always surprised I`m still doing the same job I did when I was three years old!" she said. 
 
Foster is one of the frontrunners in the Best Supporting Actress category at the 2021 Oscars this year for her powerful performance in 'The Mauritanian'. The actress won a Golden Globe for the film in the supporting category just last month. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/oscars-2021-nominations-complete-list-of-nominees-370644">See the full list Oscar nominees here</a>

Hollywood actress Jodie Foster, who has taken a step back from films, says she misses the environment on the sets. "The thing that I miss the most, strangely, is just being on sets, hanging out with all the people and making a movie together," she said, reports contactmusic.

Hollywood actress Jodie Foster, who has taken a step back from films, says she misses the environment on the sets. "The thing that I miss the most, strangely, is just being on sets, hanging out with all the people and making a movie together," she said, reports contactmusic.com. However, she adds that when it comes to acting, she is still keen only on doing roles that matter to her. "The acting, I`m happy to do less often and only really do it when it`s something that really feels meaningful to me, where I feel like I can make a major contribution," said Jodie, who was recently seen in the film 'The Mauritanian'. Meanwhile, Foster said that she is shocked by how long her career has stretched. "I never thought I would be an actor when I grew up. My mum would say, are you going to be a lawyer or a doctor? It was never assumed I was going to be an actor. I`m always surprised I`m still doing the same job I did when I was three years old!" she said. Foster is one of the frontrunners in the Best Supporting Actress category at the 2021 Oscars this year for her powerful performance in 'The Mauritanian'. The actress won a Golden Globe for the film in the supporting category just last month. See the full list Oscar nominees here

Jodie Foster on acting: Still doing the same job I did when I was three years old

Oscars 2021 nominations: The first timers, snubs, surprises

Three years ago, Natalie Portman presented the best director category at the Golden Globes with a sting in her voice.

“Here are the all-male nominees,” she said.

This year, for the very first time, a majority of the directors in that category are women. It was announced last week that Chloé Zhao ('Nomadland'), Regina King ('One Night in Miami') and Emerald Fennell ('Promising Young Woman') will vie for the best director Globe alongside David Fincher ('Mank') and Aaron Sorkin ('The Trial of the Chicago 7'), and those same filmmakers may well hear their names again when the Oscar nominations are read March 15.

In a category that has historically overlooked female directors, this feels like progress. After all, only five women have ever been nominated for the best director Oscar, and if Zhao, King and Fennell all make it in, that number would nearly double in a single year.

But look a little closer, and there’s still a pernicious double standard at play: Fincher and Sorkin were given tens of millions to make their films, while the women had to make do with much less. 'Nomadland'&nbsp;cost under $5 million, 'One Night in Miami'&nbsp;was budgeted at $16.9 million and “Promising Young Woman” fell somewhere in between.

None of the five women previously nominated for the best director Oscar have had it any better: Jane Campion (“The Piano”), Sofia Coppola (“Lost in Translation”) and Greta Gerwig (“Lady Bird”) made their movies for $10 million or less, and Kathryn Bigelow’s budget for “The Hurt Locker” — a scant $15 million — is the most that a female nominee in this category has ever been given.

I don’t point this out to sound like a sad trombone in the Oscars’ orchestra pit, because when history is made during awards season, I believe it’s worth celebrating. This particular year could produce the most diverse lineup of Oscar nominees ever, as women and people of color are projected to make up the majority in several top races.

But I know it will be tempting for Hollywood to give out those laurels and then rest on them. For example, in a year that is almost certain to see nominated actors like Riz Ahmed (“Sound of Metal”), Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”), Daniel Kaluuya (“Judas and the Black Messiah”) and Leslie Odom, Jr. (“One Night in Miami”), academy members may crow that #OscarsSoWhite is a thing of the past.

It isn’t that simple, and even this potentially landmark awards season still offers ample proof.

Just look at the Golden Globes’ most prestigious category, best drama, where none of the year’s major Black-led films were nominated. Not “One Night in Miami,” not “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” not “Judas and the Black Messiah” and not “Da 5 Bloods.”

Or look to BAFTA, considered the British equivalent of the Oscars, and the group’s “longlists” for each category, released last week. Spike Lee’s Vietnam-vet drama “Da 5 Bloods” landed on nine of those longlists — including best film, screenplay, and editing — but Lee was pointedly left out of the group of 20 filmmakers nominated for best director. (If BAFTA voters were trying to send a message to Lee, did they realize the rest of the world was BCC’d?)

You could even look to last year, when “Parasite” made Oscar history as the first film not in the English language to win best picture but couldn’t earn a single nomination in the acting categories. Awkwafina and Zhao Shuzhen, hailing from a critics’ favorite, “The Farewell,” were similarly snubbed by the academy, and those exclusions led Vulture’s E. Alex Jung to write about “an old prejudice at work here that sees Asian people as technical workers.”

That’s why Jung felt that filmmakers like Bong Joon Ho and Ang Lee could win Oscars while the actors from their films were wholly overlooked, and it’s why I wonder about the ultimate fate of the forthcoming “Minari,” Lee Isaac Chung’s moving family drama starring Steven Yeun, Yeri Han and Yuh-Jung Youn. Even though a Korean movie has now won best picture at the Oscars, no Korean or Korean American actor has ever so much as been nominated. Can the actors of “Minari” break through those long-held biases?

Things look more promising at the Independent Spirit Awards, where “Minari” scored three acting nominations and was recognized in the screenplay, director and best feature categories, too. At this ceremony, which will be held days before the Oscars in April, the feature and director categories are exclusively made up of nominated movies directed by women and people of color.

But is that a road map for the academy to follow as it enacts new diversity guidelines, or is it a reminder of the limits that have already plagued this industry for far too long? To be eligible for the Independent Spirit Awards, a movie must be made for less than $22.5 million. During awards season, directors from underrepresented groups are rarely working with much more.

Zhao, King and Fennell may still make this year’s Oscar lineup, but what will happen next year, when even more expensive movies like Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story” reenter the fray? Those films had the luxury of waiting out the pandemic for a more advantageous theatrical release, and the best director category could easily tilt back toward the sort of auteur-driven spectacle that men dominate and nominate.

No matter what happens this awards season or the next, voters should remember that progress isn’t simply secured — it’s something you have to keep reaching for. Back in 2014, there were people of color in most of the acting categories, Alfonso Cuarón (“Gravity”) won the directing Oscar, and Steve McQueen’s “12 Years a Slave” took best picture.

The very next year kicked off #OscarsSoWhite.

Three years ago, Natalie Portman presented the best director category at the Golden Globes with a sting in her voice. “Here are the all-male nominees,” she said.

Three years ago, Natalie Portman presented the best director category at the Golden Globes with a sting in her voice. “Here are the all-male nominees,” she said. This year, for the very first time, a majority of the directors in that category are women. It was announced last week that Chloé Zhao ('Nomadland'), Regina King ('One Night in Miami') and Emerald Fennell ('Promising Young Woman') will vie for the best director Globe alongside David Fincher ('Mank') and Aaron Sorkin ('The Trial of the Chicago 7'), and those same filmmakers may well hear their names again when the Oscar nominations are read March 15. In a category that has historically overlooked female directors, this feels like progress. After all, only five women have ever been nominated for the best director Oscar, and if Zhao, King and Fennell all make it in, that number would nearly double in a single year. But look a little closer, and there’s still a pernicious double standard at play: Fincher and Sorkin were given tens of millions to make their films, while the women had to make do with much less. 'Nomadland' cost under $5 million, 'One Night in Miami' was budgeted at $16.9 million and “Promising Young Woman” fell somewhere in between. None of the five women previously nominated for the best director Oscar have had it any better: Jane Campion (“The Piano”), Sofia Coppola (“Lost in Translation”) and Greta Gerwig (“Lady Bird”) made their movies for $10 million or less, and Kathryn Bigelow’s budget for “The Hurt Locker” — a scant $15 million — is the most that a female nominee in this category has ever been given. I don’t point this out to sound like a sad trombone in the Oscars’ orchestra pit, because when history is made during awards season, I believe it’s worth celebrating. This particular year could produce the most diverse lineup of Oscar nominees ever, as women and people of color are projected to make up the majority in several top races. But I know it will be tempting for Hollywood to give out those laurels and then rest on them. For example, in a year that is almost certain to see nominated actors like Riz Ahmed (“Sound of Metal”), Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”), Daniel Kaluuya (“Judas and the Black Messiah”) and Leslie Odom, Jr. (“One Night in Miami”), academy members may crow that #OscarsSoWhite is a thing of the past. It isn’t that simple, and even this potentially landmark awards season still offers ample proof. Just look at the Golden Globes’ most prestigious category, best drama, where none of the year’s major Black-led films were nominated. Not “One Night in Miami,” not “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” not “Judas and the Black Messiah” and not “Da 5 Bloods.” Or look to BAFTA, considered the British equivalent of the Oscars, and the group’s “longlists” for each category, released last week. Spike Lee’s Vietnam-vet drama “Da 5 Bloods” landed on nine of those longlists — including best film, screenplay, and editing — but Lee was pointedly left out of the group of 20 filmmakers nominated for best director. (If BAFTA voters were trying to send a message to Lee, did they realize the rest of the world was BCC’d?) You could even look to last year, when “Parasite” made Oscar history as the first film not in the English language to win best picture but couldn’t earn a single nomination in the acting categories. Awkwafina and Zhao Shuzhen, hailing from a critics’ favorite, “The Farewell,” were similarly snubbed by the academy, and those exclusions led Vulture’s E. Alex Jung to write about “an old prejudice at work here that sees Asian people as technical workers.” That’s why Jung felt that filmmakers like Bong Joon Ho and Ang Lee could win Oscars while the actors from their films were wholly overlooked, and it’s why I wonder about the ultimate fate of the forthcoming “Minari,” Lee Isaac Chung’s moving family drama starring Steven Yeun, Yeri Han and Yuh-Jung Youn. Even though a Korean movie has now won best picture at the Oscars, no Korean or Korean American actor has ever so much as been nominated. Can the actors of “Minari” break through those long-held biases? Things look more promising at the Independent Spirit Awards, where “Minari” scored three acting nominations and was recognized in the screenplay, director and best feature categories, too. At this ceremony, which will be held days before the Oscars in April, the feature and director categories are exclusively made up of nominated movies directed by women and people of color. But is that a road map for the academy to follow as it enacts new diversity guidelines, or is it a reminder of the limits that have already plagued this industry for far too long? To be eligible for the Independent Spirit Awards, a movie must be made for less than $22.5 million. During awards season, directors from underrepresented groups are rarely working with much more. Zhao, King and Fennell may still make this year’s Oscar lineup, but what will happen next year, when even more expensive movies like Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story” reenter the fray? Those films had the luxury of waiting out the pandemic for a more advantageous theatrical release, and the best director category could easily tilt back toward the sort of auteur-driven spectacle that men dominate and nominate. No matter what happens this awards season or the next, voters should remember that progress isn’t simply secured — it’s something you have to keep reaching for. Back in 2014, there were people of color in most of the acting categories, Alfonso Cuarón (“Gravity”) won the directing Oscar, and Steve McQueen’s “12 Years a Slave” took best picture. The very next year kicked off #OscarsSoWhite.

It could be the most diverse Oscars ever, but the problem isn’t solved

Due to her controversial social media posts, actress Gina Carano has been fired from the sets of 'The Mandalorian'. Meanwhile, owing to the pandemic, 2021 Oscars ceremony will be broadcast from multiple locations. Here are the top stories of the day.&nbsp; 
 
'The Mandalorian' star Gina Carano fired amid social media controversy 
 
Lucasfilm, the American subsidiary film and television production company of Walt Disney Studios, on Wednesday (local time), fired Gina Carano after the `Mandalorian` star shared several controversial social media posts. According to Variety, Gina Carano, who plays Cara Dune on both seasons of Disney Plus', 'The Mandalorian', garnered backlash on social media after sharing several controversial posts on her Instagram story. 
 
Read more: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/the-mandalorian-star-gina-carano-fired-amid-social-media-controversy-362789">https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/the-mandalorian-star-gina-carano-fired-amid-social-media-controversy-362789</a>

'Buffy' star Charisma Carpenter accuses Joss Whedon of toxic behaviour, gets support from co-star Sarah Michelle Gellar 
 
Charisma Carpenter, who is best known for playing Cordelia Chase in the 90s popular show 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer' has called out filmmaker Joss Whedon for his alleged abusive and toxic behaviour on the sets of the series which aired on TV in the 1990s.&nbsp; 
 
Read more: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/buffy-star-charisma-carpenter-accuses-joss-whedon-of-toxic-behaviour-gets-support-from-co-star-sarah-michelle-gellar-362918">https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/buffy-star-charisma-carpenter-accuses-joss-whedon-of-toxic-behaviour-gets-support-from-co-star-sarah-michelle-gellar-362918</a>

Oscars 2021 ceremony to be broadcast from 'multiple locations' amid pandemic 
 
This year's Oscars will be broadcast live and "in-person" from multiple locations, the Academy said Wednesday, as details of Hollywood's pandemic-delayed big night finally begin to take shape. 
 
Read more: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-oscars-2021-ceremony-to-be-broadcast-from-multiple-locations-amid-pandemic-362766">https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-oscars-2021-ceremony-to-be-broadcast-from-multiple-locations-amid-pandemic-362766</a>

Bruce Springsteen arrested on intoxicated driving charge 
 
Rocker Bruce Springsteen was arrested in New Jersey in November on a charge of driving while intoxicated, authorities said Wednesday. The 'Born To Run' singer was also cited on November 14, 2020 for reckless driving and consuming alcohol in a closed area, in New Jersey's Gateway National Recreation Area. 
 
Read more: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bruce-springsteen-arrested-on-intoxicated-driving-charge-362761">https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bruce-springsteen-arrested-on-intoxicated-driving-charge-362761</a>

It's confirmed! 'Game of Thrones' prequel series 'House of Dragon' to start rolling from April 
 
Wait just got shorter for HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel, ‘House of the Dragon’. According to latest confirmation from the network, the ‘GoT’ prequel will start filming from April, 2021. The confirmation was made during the Television Critics' Association panel. 
 
Read more: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/its-confirmed-game-of-thrones-prequel-series-house-of-dragon-to-start-rolling-from-april-362861">https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/its-confirmed-game-of-thrones-prequel-series-house-of-dragon-to-start-rolling-from-april-362861</a>

Due to her controversial social media posts, actress Gina Carano has been fired from the sets of 'The Mandalorian'. Meanwhile, owing to the pandemic, 2021 Oscars ceremony will be broadcast from multiple locations.

Due to her controversial social media posts, actress Gina Carano has been fired from the sets of 'The Mandalorian'. Meanwhile, owing to the pandemic, 2021 Oscars ceremony will be broadcast from multiple locations. Here are the top stories of the day. 'The Mandalorian' star Gina Carano fired amid social media controversy Lucasfilm, the American subsidiary film and television production company of Walt Disney Studios, on Wednesday (local time), fired Gina Carano after the `Mandalorian` star shared several controversial social media posts. According to Variety, Gina Carano, who plays Cara Dune on both seasons of Disney Plus', 'The Mandalorian', garnered backlash on social media after sharing several controversial posts on her Instagram story. Read more: https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/the-mandalorian-star-gina-carano-fired-amid-social-media-controversy-362789 'Buffy' star Charisma Carpenter accuses Joss Whedon of toxic behaviour, gets support from co-star Sarah Michelle Gellar Charisma Carpenter, who is best known for playing Cordelia Chase in the 90s popular show 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer' has called out filmmaker Joss Whedon for his alleged abusive and toxic behaviour on the sets of the series which aired on TV in the 1990s. Read more: https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/buffy-star-charisma-carpenter-accuses-joss-whedon-of-toxic-behaviour-gets-support-from-co-star-sarah-michelle-gellar-362918 Oscars 2021 ceremony to be broadcast from 'multiple locations' amid pandemic This year's Oscars will be broadcast live and "in-person" from multiple locations, the Academy said Wednesday, as details of Hollywood's pandemic-delayed big night finally begin to take shape. Read more: https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-oscars-2021-ceremony-to-be-broadcast-from-multiple-locations-amid-pandemic-362766 Bruce Springsteen arrested on intoxicated driving charge Rocker Bruce Springsteen was arrested in New Jersey in November on a charge of driving while intoxicated, authorities said Wednesday. The 'Born To Run' singer was also cited on November 14, 2020 for reckless driving and consuming alcohol in a closed area, in New Jersey's Gateway National Recreation Area. Read more: https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bruce-springsteen-arrested-on-intoxicated-driving-charge-362761 It's confirmed! 'Game of Thrones' prequel series 'House of Dragon' to start rolling from April Wait just got shorter for HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel, ‘House of the Dragon’. According to latest confirmation from the network, the ‘GoT’ prequel will start filming from April, 2021. The confirmation was made during the Television Critics' Association panel. Read more: https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/its-confirmed-game-of-thrones-prequel-series-house-of-dragon-to-start-rolling-from-april-362861

Top 5 Hollywood news today: Oscars to be broadcast from 'multiple locations', Gina Carano fired from 'The Mandalorian'

Days after Malayalam film 'Jallikattu' was selected as India's official entry to 2021 Oscars in the International Feature Film category, Indian short film 'Shameless' has been shortlisted to compete in the Live-Action Short Film category. 
 
The film stars Sayani Gupta and Hussain Dalal in the lead and has been directed by Keith Gomes. The film beat Vidya Balan starrer 'Natkhat' to qualify for the race.&nbsp; 
 
Dalal plays a man who works from home and always orders in, while Gupta is a pizza delivery girl. One day Dalal's character wakes up to find himself trapped by Gupta. 
 
"I observe human behaviour and love telling stories about the human spirit. This world needs kindness and my films are a reminder to not get lost into technology. I make films with little funding from family and friends, everyone comes together with loads of love and passion," said Gomes in a statement. 
 
"My experience on 'Shameless' was fantastic and now we submitting to the Oscars, it's a wow! Keith is wonderful as a director and very gentle with his actors and crew. Hussain, of course is a great friend, and it was a ball working with him. We have a silent communication and understanding when it comes to improvisations," said Gupta. 
&nbsp;

Days after Malayalam film 'Jallikattu' was selected as India's official entry to 2021 Oscars in the International Feature Film category, Indian short film 'Shameless' has been shortlisted to compete in the Live-Action Short Film category.

Days after Malayalam film 'Jallikattu' was selected as India's official entry to 2021 Oscars in the International Feature Film category, Indian short film 'Shameless' has been shortlisted to compete in the Live-Action Short Film category. The film stars Sayani Gupta and Hussain Dalal in the lead and has been directed by Keith Gomes. The film beat Vidya Balan starrer 'Natkhat' to qualify for the race. Dalal plays a man who works from home and always orders in, while Gupta is a pizza delivery girl. One day Dalal's character wakes up to find himself trapped by Gupta. "I observe human behaviour and love telling stories about the human spirit. This world needs kindness and my films are a reminder to not get lost into technology. I make films with little funding from family and friends, everyone comes together with loads of love and passion," said Gomes in a statement. "My experience on 'Shameless' was fantastic and now we submitting to the Oscars, it's a wow! Keith is wonderful as a director and very gentle with his actors and crew. Hussain, of course is a great friend, and it was a ball working with him. We have a silent communication and understanding when it comes to improvisations," said Gupta.

Sayani Gupta’s ‘Shameless’ heads to Oscars 2021; to compete in Live Action Short Film category

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.&nbsp; 
 
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'.&nbsp; 
 
'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.&nbsp; 
 
The 2021 Oscars will be held on April 25, 2021.&nbsp;

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.

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.

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

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