Film Jallikattu is India’s official entry to Oscars

The Film Federation of India jury, headed by filmmaker Rahul Rawail, picked Jallikattu as India’s entry for the Best International Film category at the Academy Awards -the Oscars. Rawail said it was “a majority choice” of the 14-member jury. “It’s a film which shows human instincts are worse than (that of) animals,” said Rawail of the film. “The unique ensemble of characters and the location, coupled with the technical and human aspects, it was the best from the package. It is a production to be proud of."

The film was chosen out of 27 films. Based on the controversial bull-taming event traditionally held in Tamil Nadu, Jallikattu explores ‘the reducing differences between man and animal’. The film has been directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery and stars Antony Varghese, Chemban Vinod Jose, Sabumon Abdusamad and Santhy Balachandran. Premiered on September 6 last year at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival, the film has received widespread acclaim. Pellissery also won the best director trophy at the 50th International Film Festival of India last year. In 2019, 

The Covid-19 pandemic meant that this was the first time there was a virtual selection process, with Rawail and the jury members watching four to five films a day online over the last week. With no theatrical films for nearly seven months, the Directorate of Film Festival of India(FFI) this time around also considered films which had straight-to-OTT releases in 2020. Traditionally the Oscars held in last week of February, the Covid-19 pandemic has pushed back the 2021 ceremony to April 25.