India's official entry to Oscars 2021

Director Lijo Jose Pellissery’s Malayalam film 'Jallikattu' has been selected as India's official entry to the Oscars 2021.

The film starring Antony Varghese, Chemban Vinod Jose, Sabumon Abdusamad has secured its spot in the Oscars race.

According to the reports, the film went up against the Amitabh Bachchan-Ayushmann Khurranan starrer 'Gulabo Sitabo', Priyanka Chopra- starrer 'The Sky is Pink', Deepika Padukone's‘Chhapaak’, Nawazuddin Siddiqui's 'Serious Men' and Janhvi Kapoor starrer Gunjan Saxena.

The Malayalam film was chosen out of 27 films that also included 'The Disciple', Shakuntala Devi , 'Shikara', 'AK vs AK', 'Bhonsle', 'Chhalaang', 'Eeb Allay Ooo!', 'Check Post', 'Atkan Chatkan', 'Kaamyaab', 'Chintu ka Birthday' and 'Bittersweet'.

Jallikattu' is based on a short story, titled 'Maoist', written by Hareesh S, who also adapted the screenplay along with R. Jayakumar.

This selection makes it the third Malayalam film to be selected as India’s entry in the 'Best International Feature Film' category.

Previously, director Salim Ahamed’s ‘Adaminte Makan Abu’ was selected in 2011 and director Rajiv Anchal’s ‘Guru’ was selected in 1997.

Both films, however, didn’t secure a spot on the Academy Awards nominations list.