Oscars 2025: Seven Indian films in contention for the Academy Awards

As the countdown to the 97th Academy Awards intensifies, seven Indian films have made it to the contenders' list, sparking excitement among cinephiles. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recently announced 323 eligible feature films, including 207 competing for the coveted Best Picture category.

Among the Indian entries are Kanguva (Tamil), Aadujeevitham (The Goat Life), Santosh, Swatantrya Veer Savarkar (all Hindi), All We Imagine as Light (Malayalam-Hindi), Girls Will Be Girls (Hindi-English), and Putul (Bengali).

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Notably, Putul, directed and produced by Indira Dhar, has made history as the first Bengali film to be considered for a Best Picture nomination at the Oscars.

The Oscars nomination voting begins on January 8, 2025, and closes on January 12, 2025. The final list of nominees will be unveiled on January 17, 2025. The much-anticipated awards ceremony will take place on March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Ovation Hollywood.

While Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies was India’s official entry for the Best International Feature Film category, it did not make the shortlist.

Additionally, the Academy has released shortlists for 10 other categories, including Animated Short Film, Documentary Feature, Original Score, and Visual Effects, heightening anticipation for the cinematic celebration.

Indian cinema’s strong presence at the Oscars this year reflects its growing global recognition and storytelling prowess.