India’s Oscar hopefuls are shaping up to be a lively contest this year. The team behind ‘Ramayana: Part 1’ has put the film forward for the 99th Academy Awards, even though Marathi drama ‘Gondhal’ has already been chosen as India’s official submission for the International Feature Film category. The ‘Ramayana’ camp has pursued its own route, entering the film without the backing of the national selection process, ie, in independent category. Should it meet the eligibility requirements for each category, the movie could also be considered for Best Picture, Visual Effects, Cinematography and Music. According to reports, the entry was filed on 11 November, one day before the 12 November cutoff for general submissions. ‘Ramayana’ stars Ranbir Kapoor, Yash and Sai Pallavi in lead roles.
