Controversial Film The Kashmir Files Joins Oscar Race

After RRR and Kantara apart from India's official entry Last Film Show, another film joined Oscars 2023. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has come out with a list of 301 feature films eligible for Oscars with Indian films "RRR", "Gangubai Kathiawadi", "The Kashmir Files" and "Kantara" made it to the cut. 

Expressing his happiness at The Kashmir Files making it to the list, director Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri tweeted, “The Kashmir Files is shortlisted by @TheAcademy for #Oscars and is eligible for voting and got nominated amongst 300 films 💥The voting would take place between Jan 12th to Jan 17th. @vivekagnihotri @AnupamPKher @AbhishekOfficl @MayankOfficl @kaalisudheers @ZeeStudios_”

The Kashmir Files which was made about the controversial exodus of Kashmiri Hindus went on to become a huge blockbuster and broke several records in Indian cinema.The story depicts the exodus and the events leading up to it as a genocide. Abhishek Agarwal and Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri together produced the movie that starred Anupam Kher, Mithun Chakraborty, Darshan Kumar and Pallavi Joshi in lead roles.

In the shortlist for 10 categories which AMPAS unveiled in December, "Chhello Show" made it to the best international film segment, while "Naatu Naatu" from "RRR" in the music (original song) category. "All That Breathes" was included in the documentary feature shortlist and "The Elephant Whisperers" in the documentary short category.

This is perhaps the first time India has made it to four Oscar shortlists, the stage before nominations. Oscars will announce the final nominations list on January 24 as 9,579 eligible voting members will begin filling out their ballots. The Oscars ceremony will air live on March 12 from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.