Films that missed being India's official entry to the Oscars

Director Pan Nalin's drama Chhello Show aka Last Film Show is India's official entry to the Oscars 2023. But it edged out movies like RRR and The Kashmir Files, films that have proven their mettle with not just Indian audiences, but viewers in foreign countries, too. ETimes, looks back at 5 recent films that missed out on being India's official entry to the Academy Awards, but they didn't manage to convince the select jury that decides this matter. Here's a list of 5 powerhouse movies that surely didn't get their Oscar due.

The most obvious choice in this list, SS Rajamouli's RRR had been trending on social media all day long yesterday, with thousands of fans convinced that it will get the nod from the jury that decides which Indian movie should be sent as India's official entry to the Oscars. While RRR has been a global moneyspinner, what really makes it a worth contender for Academy honours is the fact that so many of Hollywood's writers and directors have shared glowing reviews of the movie having watched it in international theatres and on OTT screenings. If an Indian film already had a pre-established lobby on US shores, it was RRR.

Suriya's Jai Bhim turned into a cultural milestone upon its release. This courtroom drama that highlighted the plight of oppressed sections of Indian society who can't even get a fair representation in its judicial system, became a rage around the world. While Koozhangal was India's official entry to the Oscars last year, Jai Bhim did make it to the Academy's considerations, featuring in a final 276 list of movies, but it got there through a marketing plan from the film's makers which involved a paid service through the Academy Awards. Nevertheless, it was a film that definitely deserved to be India's presentation to the world of cinema.

This fantasy horror adventure film from director Rahi Anil Barve featuring a spectacular performance by Sohum Shah could have been a real Dark Horse at the Academy Awards in 2019. It missed out on being India's official entry to Village Rockstars, but this surreal and distinctly unique film certainly had all the trappings of being a film that could have surprised the jury in Hollywood.

There are several technical parameters that define which film can be eligible for an Oscars nod. But when India sends it's official entry, that distinction is certainly well-earned. 2013's Aankhon Dekhi, directed by Rajat Kapoor, featuring Sanjay Mishra in a performance of a lifetime, certainly deserved a nod to be our official Oscar entry. While it did not make the final cut, this film's indie goodness combined with some masterful writing, made it a totally unique and fresh cinematic experience.

If it wasn't Aankhon Dekhi, it certainly should have been Ritesh Batra's The Lunchbox featuring Irrfan Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Nimrat Kaur. Released in the same year as Rajat Kapoor's seminal drama, this film had performances that would have made Stanislavski proud. Not just that, this slice-of-life drama had the kind of writing that you could compare to literary greats. At the time, both Irrfan and Nawazuddin were also enjoying immense international popularity and building a lobby for this film would have been a breeze.