Marathi film 'Court' out of Oscar race

Marathi film 'Court' out of Oscar race

Los Angeles: While India's courtroom drama 'Court' is out of the Best Foreign-Language Film category of the upcoming 88th Academy Awards, other Indian regional films like "Jalam", "RangiTaranga" and "Nachom-ia Kumpasar" are still vying for a spot in the nominations for the upcoming gala.

The list has been narrowed down from 80 films that were originally considered eligible, read a statement on the official website of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.

A still from 'Court'

Films that are still vying the Best Foreign-Language category include "The Brand New Testament" (Belgium), "Embrace of the Serpent" (Colombia), "A War" (Denmark), "The Fencer" (Finland), "Mustang" (France), "Labyrinth of Lies" (Germany) "Son of Saul" (Hungary), "Viva" (Ireland) and "Theeb" (Jordan).

The Best Foreign Language Film nominations for 2015 are being determined in two phases.

The phase one committee, consisting of several hundred Los Angeles-based Academy members, screened the original submissions in the category between mid-October and December 14. The group's top six choices, augmented by three additional selections voted by the Academy's Foreign Language Film Award Executive Committee, constitute the shortlist.

Out of these nine films, five will be chosen to compete in the category.

However, other Indian regional films like "Jalam", "RangiTaranga" and "Nachom-ia Kumpasar" are still vying for a spot in the nominations for the upcoming gala.

Though India is out from the Best Foreign-Language Film category, some movies are still competing in various other categories for the golden statuette.

Compositions from Malayalam movie "Jalam" and Indo-Australian film "Salt Bridge" are among the 74 songs contending for nominations in the Best Original Song category of the awards gala.

"Bhoomiyilenghanumundo", "Koodu vaykkan", "Pakalppaathi chaari" and "Yaathra manoradhamerum" are songs from "Jalam" that are fighting for a spot in the category.

Starring Priyanka Nair and Prakash Bare, "Jalam" is directed by M. Padmakumar.

Also, seven songs from "Salt Bridge", which stars Rajeev Khandelwal and Usha Jadhav, have made it to the long list.

The songs are: "Aankhon me samaye dil", "Bachpana thaa", "Kanpne lage tum", "Kyaa bataaun tujhe", "Le jaaye jo door tumse", "Na jaane kitni door" and "Sookha hi rang daalo".

Konkani film "Nachom-ia Kumpasar", Malayalam film "Jalam" and "Salt Bridge" are also amongst 112 films that contending for a spot in the Best Original Score category.

Two Kannada films "Rangitaranga" and "Care of Footpath 2", which stars television actress Avika Gor along with actors Esha Deol, Deepp Pathak, Jaya Karthik Kishan S and S. Dingri Naresh, are among the 305 movies that made it to the list of eligible movies for the 88th Academy Awards.

"Nachom-ia Kumpasar" is also up against these films.

The 88th Academy Awards nominations will be announced on January 14, 2016. The 88th Oscars will take place here on February 28.