Oscars 2027: Nagaland's Angh gives India a second contender alongside Gondhal

In a significant shift for India's film industry, Angh, a debut feature by Naga filmmaker Theja Rio, secured the top prize in the Platform section at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). This victory potentially lands Angh in contention for Best International Feature at the 99th Academy Awards, set to take place on March 14, 2027.

Previously, India's Oscar aspirations hinged on a single film selected by a single committee. However, revised Academy rules now permit non-US films to enter the Best International Feature category through a top jury prize at prominent international film festivals.

The ruling change emerged in May, when the Academy updated its eligibility criteria. Since this cycle, a non-US film can gain entry into the Best International Feature category by winning a top jury prize at one of the following festivals: Berlin, Busan, Cannes, Sundance, Toronto, or Venice. Angh is the first Indian film to exploit this newly opened pathway. It was the lone Indian title to premiere in Platform, TIFF's competitive segment for director-led cinema, outpacing eleven other films to secure the prize.

Angh's narrative unfolds in Nagaland during the 1960s. Initially conceived as a short film, it evolved into a feature-length production. Rio, the director, is making his feature-film debut with Angh, having previously garnered accolades for his short films screened internationally.

This development matters because last year, India's official submission for Oscar consideration, Neeraj Ghaywan's Homebound, reached the shortlist but did not earn a nomination. Similarly, Santosh, a collaborative India-UK-Germany-France project by Santosh Davakhar, participated in the Oscar race for Britain and went unexhibited in Indian cinemas.

Previously, Indian films have fared well in other Oscar categories like short documentary, where The Elephant Whisperers and Period. End of Sentence won. However, the International Feature category has been an exception, with only one Indian entry to date and no alternative route.

Now, Angh and Gondhal, the Marathi thriller nominated by the Film Federation of India, will vie for the same Oscar slot over the next few months. For the first time, India is not solely relying on one film for its Oscar prospects.