New Delhi: India has submitted Malayalam film Jallikattu as its official entry to 93rd Academy Awards under the Best International Feature Film category, the Film Federation of India (FFI) announced on Wednesday. The film beat the likes of The Disciple, Shakuntala Devi, Chhapak, Serious Men and Gunjan Saxena among others to represent India at the prestigious awards.
“There were a total of 27 films that had entered the race from Hindi, Malayalam and Marathi. The film which has been nominated by the jury to represent India at Oscars is Malayalam film Jallikattu,” said Rahul Rawail, chairman, jury board, Film Federation of India in an online press conference.
“It is a film that really brings out the raw problems which are there in human beings, that is we are worse than animals,” he added.
The film, named on the contentional traditional bull-taming sport practised in Tamil Nadu, has been directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery. It stars Antony Varghesve, Chemban Vinod Jose, Sabumon Abdusamad and Santhy Balachandran in pivotal roles.
Jallikattu, based on a 2015 story by Maoist S Hareesh, revolves around the violence and corruption that affects our everyday lives. To portray the depravity, it narrates the story of a bull that escapes from a slaughterhouse in the Idukki village while villagers which leads Kerala villagers to launch a hunt mission.
The film, released in October 29, was premiered at the 2019 International Film Festival and the Busan International Film Festival in South Korea. The film was critically acclaimed at various film festivals.
For Jallikattu, Pellissery also won the best director trophy at the 50th International Film Festival of India last year.
Last year, Zoya Akhtar directorial musical drama Gully Boy which stared Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh in lead roles was India's official entry. However, it didn't made it to the list of nominations. Meanwhile, Jallikattu is second Malayalam film to be entered for Oscars. Earlier, in 2011, Adaminte Makal Abu by Salim Ahamed had entered Oscars.
The 93rd Academy Awards are scheduled to take place on 25 April, 2021.
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