India’s official entry fails to make it to the shortlist of Oscar race

Los Angeles: Tamil film “Visaranai”, which was India’s official entry to the Oscars in the Foreign Language Film category, has failed to make it to the shortlist of nine movies that will advance in the race.

The crime-thriller, produced by actor-filmmaker Dhanush, is written and directed by Vetrimaaran, was selected by Film Federation of India to represent India at the 89th Academy Awards.

India has never won an Oscar in the Foreign Language Film category. The last Indian film that made it to the final five nominees at the Oscars was Ashutosh Gowariker’s “Lagaan”.

“Mother India” and “Salaam Bombay” are the only other two Indian films to have made it to the top five besides Deepa Mehta’s “Water”, which was a Canadian entry.