Village Rockstars is India’s Oscar entry
MUMBAI: Rima Das’ National Award-winning Assamese feature Village Rockstars has been selected to represent India in the Best Foreign Language category at the 91st Academy Awards next year, the Film Federation of India (FFI) announced on Saturday.
The film follows the life of Dhunu, a girl whose life in poverty did not prevent her from relentlessly following her dream of starting a rock band and owning a guitar.
Elated, Das called the nomination a “huge recognition” for filmmakers from the northeast.
“It feels great... The whole journey is kind of a fairy tale. It is a huge recognition for northeast...”
“I was always hopeful. I was always looking forward to going to the festivals and winning accolades. But most important for me was that people should connect with the film. That emotional connections is something which I have achieved through this film,” Das told PTI.
“Village Rockstars”, starring Bhanita Das in the lead role, was premiered worldwide at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and has toured over 70 prestigious international and national film festivals.
The coming-of-age film had bagged the Best Feature Film trophy at the 65th National Film Awards, besides also winning Best Child Artist, Best Location Sound Recordist and Best Editing.
The announcement was made by SV Rajendra Singh Babu, Chairman, Selection Committee for Oscar Award, FFI. “It is technically a film with good human concept that would touch people around the world. We are honouring a film that deserves to be at the Oscars. We are hopeful and confident that people will see and respect the film,” he told reporters. Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmaavat, Alia Bhatt-starrrer Raazi, Rani Mukerji-fronted Hichki, Shoojit Sircar’s October, Love Sonia directed by Tabrez Noorani, Tumbaad, Halkaa, Kadvi Hawa and recently-released Manto were part of the list of 28 films submitted for next year’s Oscars.
No Indian film has ever won an Oscar. The last Indian film that made it to the final five in the Best Foreign Film category list was Ashutosh Gowariker’s Lagaan in 2001.
Mother India (1958) and Salaam Bombay (1989) are the other two Indian movies to have made it to the top five.