Malayalam movie Jallikattu has been selected as India’s official entry for the 93rd Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category.Jallikattu was chosen out of 27 films. The other films in contention were The Disciple, Shakuntalam 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.Directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery, Jallikattu, starring Antony Varghese, Chemban Vinod Jose, Sabumon Abdusamad and Santhy Balachandran.
Jallikattu derives its name from the controversial bull-taming event that is held in the southern part of the country. The film is about a group of men coming together to stop a bull that is running wild in their village.Last year, Zoya Akhtar’s Gully Boy was India’s official entry to the Oscars, but the film did not get shortlisted for nominations. The last Indian film to get nominated in the category, earlier known as the Best Foreign Language Film, was Lagaan in 2002.In the last few years, films like Village Rockstars, Newton, Court, Visaranai, Barfi, Indian, Peepli Live among others have been submitted for nominations. The 2021 Academy Awards will be held on April 25 instead of the usual second Sunday of February.