Dhurandhar wasn’t ‘Oscar material’, Main Vaapas Aaunga was in the running: jury member

Marathi film Gondhal secured the prestigious position of India's contender for the upcoming Oscars after jury member Vivek Vaswani shared his reasoning for its selection. Despite other contenders, including Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar and Imtiaz Ali's Main Vaapas Aaunga, Gondhal emerged as the top choice. Vaswani explained that Imtiaz's film was set aside due to concerns that its India-Pakistan storyline might not resonate with American audiences.

The jury, comprising 14 members, was given clear instructions to select a film that represented Indian culture and tradition with global appeal. Gondhal, a film set during a traditional Gondhal ceremony, successfully blended genre and culture with its fusion of intrigue, murder, singing, and dancing. Additionally, the film's music, composed by Ilaiyaraaja, played a significant role in its selection.

Vaswani also mentioned that the final three films considered by the jury were Gondhal, Angh, and Main Vaapas Aaunga. While Angh received 11 votes, Gondhal was chosen unanimously, and Dhurandhar received only four votes.