Malayalam film Jallikattu is India’s entry for Oscar 2021

Malayalam director Lijo Jose Pellissery’s Jallikattu has been selected as India’s official submission for the Best International Feature Film language category at the 93rd Academy Awards. A 14-member committee of the Film Federation of India, that picks the nominee every year, made the announcement on Wednesday.

Jallikattu was picked out of 27 films. Some of the other movies in the race to be India’s entry for Oscar 2021, were The Disciple, Shakunthala Devi, Shikara, Gunjan Saxena, Chhapaak, AK vs AK, Gulabo Sitabo, Bhonsle, Chhalaang, Eeb Allay Ooo!, Check Post, Atkan Chatkan, Serious Men, Bulbbul, Kaamyaab, The Sky is Pink, Chintu ka Birthday and Bittersweet.

Jallikattu revolves around a tamed buffalo that liberates itself from its owner on the eve of its scheduled slaughter and runs amok through a town in Kerala’s Idukki district.

The 93rd Academy Awards are scheduled to be held on April 25, 2021 in Los Angeles. The ceremony which is usually held in second sunday of February was pushed back two months because of the coronavirus pandemic.

In 2019, the committee picked Zoya Akthar’s Gully Boy for the 2020 Oscars. In previous years, India has sent Rima Das’s Village Rockstars, Amit Masukar’s Newton, Vetri Maaran’s Visaaranai and Chaitanya Tamhane’s Court to the Oscars. India has never won an award in this category.