Oscars 2022: 'Sherni', 'Sardar Udham' shortlisted for India's official entry
Vidya Balan's Sherni and Vicky Kaushal's film Sardar Udham have been shortlisted for India's official entry to Oscars 2022. The selection of films for competing at the Academy Awards has started in Kolkata. Jury members are screening as many as 14 film submissions to decide which one should be shortlisted for the Best International Feature Film category of the prestigious award. Here's more.
Apart from these two Hindi films, the Malayalam movie Nayattu and Tamil movie Mandela are also among the 14 Indian films on the shortlist in the race for India's official entry to Oscars 2022. Directed by Martin Prakkat, Nayattu is set against the backdrop of corruption, dirty politics, and bureaucracy. Meanwhile, Mandela, starring Yogi Babu, is a political comedy-drama helmed by director Madonne Ashwin.
Of the 14 films, only one will make it as India's official entry for the decorated award. The final entry will be chosen by popular filmmaker Shaji N Karun, who is currently heading the 15-member jury. At the 93rd Academy Awards, Jallikattu was officially shortlisted as India's entry at the International Feature Film category at the Academy Awards, but failed to get a nomination.
In Sherni, Balan plays a forest officer. The Amit V Masurkar-directorial tells a story about corruption and resolving man-animal conflicts in forest areas. Meanwhile, Vicky Kaushal-starrer Sardar Udham, directed by Shoojit Sircar, is based on the life of revolutionary Sardar Udham Singh. It brought the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre to the fore and rejigged the tragic memories for every citizen of the country.
Earlier, Masurkar-helmed Rajkummar Rao starrer Newton was India's official selection for the Oscars, but it was rejected. Coming to the event, Oscars 2022 or the 94th Academy Awards is set to honor the best movies that have been released from March 1, 2021. The ceremony has been scheduled for March 27 at the iconic Dolby Theatre in Hollywood in Los Angeles, California next year.
