'Jallikattu' is India's official Oscar entry
New Delhi: Malayalam feature "Jallikattu", directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery, has been selected as India's official entry for the International Feature Film category at the 93rd Academy Awards, the Film Federation of India (FFI) announced on Thursday.
"Jallikattu", which was unanimously chosen from 27 entries across Hindi, Marathi and other languages, is about a tribe of men coming together to stop a bull that has run amok in their village.
"There were a total of 27 films that had entered the race from Hindi, Malayalam and Marathi. The film which has been nominated by the jury to represent India at Oscars is Malayalam film 'Jallikattu'.
"It is a film that really brings out the raw problems which are there in human beings, that is we are worse than animals," filmmaker Rahul Rawail, Chairman, Jury Board, Film Federation of India, told reporters in an online press conference.
The film, which derives its name from the popular-yet-controversial bull-taming event from the South, is based on a short story by Hareesh.
It features actors Antony Varghese, Chemban Vinod Jose, Sabumon Abdusamad and Santhy Balachandran.
Among the films that were considered by the jury included titles such as "Chhapaak", "Shakuntala Devi", "Chhalaang", "Gulabo Sitabo", "Eeb Allay Ooo!", "The Sky is Pink", "Bulbbul and internationally-celebrated feature "The Disciple".
Calling Pellissery a "very competent director", known for several critically acclaimed films like "Angamaly Diaries" and "Ea Ma Yau", Rawail said "Jallikattu" is a production that country should be proud of.
"The whole film talks about an animal that has run amok in a butcher's shop... The film has been depicted wonderfully and it has been shot very well. The emotion that comes out really moved all of us to have it selected," the chairman said.
"Jallikattu" had its premiere on September 2019 at the Toronto International Film Festival and received widespread critical acclaim.
The movie was particularly praised for Pellissery's spectacular directing effort, ably supported by Girish Gangadharan's cinematography and Renganaath Ravee's wild sound design work.
Pellissery also won the best director trophy at the 50th International Film Festival of India last year.
In 2019, Zoya Akhtar's "Gully Boy", starring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt, was India's entry to the Oscars.
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Manu Bhaker likely to get 'deteriorating' Paris Olympics medals replaced
New Delhi, Jan 14: India's star pistol shooter Manu Bhaker is likely to get her two Paris Olympics bronze medals replaced by identical models as she is among the large group of athletes who have complained that their medals have already deteriorated.
A lot of athletes from across the world have also posted pictures of their worn out medals on social media in recent times.
It has been learnt that the colour of Bhaker's medals has "come off" and they "have been in that state" for a long while now.
Damaged medals will be systematically replaced by the Monnaie de Paris (the French state mint) and engraved in an identical way to the originals, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said.
The iron pieces embedded in the centre of each Olympic medal weigh 18 grams (about two-thirds of an ounce).
The French state mint is a state-owned company that mints coins and other currency for France.
All the damaged and defective medals are to be replaced in the coming weeks, as the Paris Olympics organising committee is working closely with the Monnaie de Paris.
The 2024 Olympic and Paralympic medals in Paris featured pieces of the iconic Eiffel Tower.
The 5,084 gold, silver and bronze medals for Paris 2024 were designed by luxury jewellery and watch firm Chaumet (part of the LVMH conglomerate) and produced by the Monnaie de Paris.
Bhaker is the first Indian post Independence to win two medals in a single edition of the Olympics.
She opened India's medal account at the Games by winning a bronze in individual 10m air pistol event, becoming the first markswoman from the country to win an Olympic medal.
The 22-year-old then joined forces with Sarabjot Singh to bag the 10m air pistol mixed team bronze.
