‘Jallikattu’, India’s official entry for the Oscars, fails to make the cut

Malayalam film Jallikattu, India’s official entry in the Best International Feature category at the 93rd Academy Awards, is out of contention.

The Oscars released shortlists for nine categories on Wednesday, and filmmaker Lijo Jose Pellissery’s critically acclaimed film was not in its category.

The Film Federation of India chose Jallikattu from a longlist of 27 movies, including Shakuntala Devi, Chhapaak, Chhalaang, The Disciple, Gulabo Sitabo and The Sky Is Pink.

The academy revealed that films from 93 countries were eligible for the Best International Feature Film category; the selected 15 will compete for the final list of nominations.

Nominations for the Academy Awards will be announced on March 15.

Jallikattu is a 2019 independent film with a screenplay by S Hareesh and R Jayakumar. It is based on the short story Maoist by Hareesh.

The film derives its name from the traditional Tamil festival, Jallikattu.

The only Indian films to have been nominated for an Oscar so far have been Mother India, Salaam Bombay and Lagaan.

Oscars Shortlist in Best International Feature Film category

Another Round (Denmark) – directed Thomas Vinterberg

Better Days (Hong Kong) – directed by Derek Tsang

Charlatan (Czech Republic) – directed by Agnieszka Holland

Collective (Romania) – directed by Alexander Nanau

Dear Comrades! (Russia) – directed by Andrei Konchalovsky

I’m No Longer Here (Mexico) – directed by Fernando Frias

Hope (Norway) – directed by Maria Sødahl

La Llorona (Guatemala) – directed by Jayro Bustamante

The Mole Agent (Chile) – directed by Maite Alberdi

Night of the Kings (Ivory Coast) – Philippe Lacôte

Quo Vadis, Aida? (Bosnia and Herzegovina) – directed by Jasmila Žbanić

Sun Children (Iran) – directed by Majid Majidi

Two of Us (France) – directed by Filippo Meneghetti

A Sun (Taiwan) – directed by Chung Mong-hong

The Man Who Sold His Skin (Tunisia) – directed by Kaouther Ben Hania