'Dashavatar' becomes 1st Marathi film to enter Oscars contention list
What's the story
Subodh Khanolkar's Marathi film Dashavatar has made history by becoming the first-ever Marathi movie to enter the Oscars contention list. The announcement was made on Sunday by Zee Studios, which is backing the film. In a social media post, they wrote: "Born of red soil. Carried by tradition. Now global." "Dashavatar is heading toward the Oscars!"
Industry reaction
'Dashavatar' marks a milestone for Marathi cinema
The film's production house, Ocean Film Company, also expressed its excitement over this achievement. They said, "This is a milestone moment for us and for Marathi cinema." "Dashavatar, Ocean Film Company's debut film, entering the Oscars is a testament to the passion, belief and relentless effort of our entire team." "We are honored and grateful to see Marathi storytelling shine on a global platform." Out of over 2,000 global entries, around 150-200 movies are selected for the list, according to ETimes.
Director's statement
Director Khanolkar confirmed 'Dashavatar's entry into Oscars contention
Director Khanolkar also took to Instagram to confirm the news. He wrote, "I received an email stating that Dashavatar has been selected in the main competition of the Academy Awards (main open film category - contention list)." "It is the only Marathi film among the 150 films selected from thousands, and the first Marathi movie to be shown in the Academy Screening Room."
Film details
'Dashavatar' features an ensemble cast and production team
Written and directed by Khanolkar, Dashavatar stars Dilip Prabhavalkar in the lead role. The film also features Mahesh Manjrekar, Bharat Jadhav, Siddharth Menon, Priyadarshini Indalkar, Vijay Kenkare, Sunil Tawade, Aarti Wadagbalkar, and Lokesh Mittal, among others. It is produced by Sujay Hande, Onkar Kate, Khanolkar, Ashok Hande, Aditya Joshi, Nitin Sahasrabudhe, Mrunal Sahasrabudhe, Sanjay Dubey, and Vinayak Joshi under Zee Studios, Ocean Film Company, Ocean Art House Production. It was released in theaters on September 12, 2025.
Academy Awards timeline
Oscars 2026: Key dates for nominations and ceremony
The Hollywood Reporter states that the nominations for all categories will be finalized between January 12-16, 2026. India has pinned its hopes on its official entry, Homebound, which has been shortlisted in the Best International Feature Film category. The nominees will be announced on January 22, 2026. The 98th Academy Awards will take place on March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood.