RRR and The Kashmir Files beaten by Gujarati film Chhello Show as India’s official entry to Oscars 2023

In the last one month, there have been several speculations regarding the official Indian entry at the Oscars 2023. While SS Rajamouli’s magnum opus RRR and Vivek Agnihotri’s blockbuster The Kashmir Files were the top 2 choices for the selection of analysts and critics out there, the eventual winner has been a surprising entry. The Gujarati film Chello Show, also known as Last Film Show, has been chosen as India’s official entry to Oscars 2023.

 

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On this big achievement, director Pan Nalin said in a statement, “I could have never imagined such a day would come and bring light and celebration of light. Chhello Show has been enjoying love from around the world but there was an ache in my heart that how do I make India discover it? Now I can breathe again and believe in cinema that entertains, inspires and enlightens! Thank you FFI, Thank you Jury.”

 

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Chhello Show premiered at Tribeca Film Festival in 2021 and it won the Golden Spike at the 66th Valladolid International Film Festival last year in October. It is all set to get an Indian theatrical release on October 14, 2022. The film’s story follows young Samay’s pursuit of the 35mm dream and it stars Bhavin Rabari, Bhavesh Shrimali, Richa Meena, Dipen Raval and Paresh Mehta.

 

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India has been submitting an entry to the Oscars in the Best International Feature Film category since 1957, and till date, it has made the final shortlist of the top 5 nominees at 3 occasions. The first nod came in the first year itself in 1957 as Mother India was nominated, then in 1988 Salaam Bombay made the final cut while Aamir Khan’s Lagaan was the last Indian film to get the top 5 nod in 2001. The 95th Academy Awards ceremony will be held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on March 12, 2023 .

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