Five Indian Oscars submissions that sparked debate – and films that missed out

India has secured two films for the 2027 Oscars: Santosh Davakhar's Marathi-language thriller, Gondhal, and Theja Rio's drama, Angh. The films must now await the announcement of the shortlist on December 15 and the final nominations on January 21, 2027.

In the past, securing the Film Federation of India's backing was crucial for an Indian film's chances in this category. Historically, just three Indian films have reached the final nominations: Mother India, Salaam Bombay!, and Lagaan. This has sparked debates over whether selectors should prioritize artistic merit, a film's representation of India, or its appeal to Academy voters.

Five films that were selected but faced criticism include Laapataa Ladies, All We Imagine as Light, The Good Road, Barfi!, and Eklavya: The Royal Guard. Laapataa Ladies, directed by Payal Kapadia, was criticized for its resemblance to a European film, while All We Imagine as Light, about nurses in Mumbai, was passed over despite winning the Grand Prix at Cannes.

The Good Road, Gyan Correa's Gujarati-language film, was criticized for its unfamiliar setting and The Lunchbox, starring Irrfan Khan and Nimrat Kaur, was deemed technically weak by the jury. Barfi!, Anurag Basu's film about a deaf man, faced accusations of plagiarism from other international films, while Eklavya: The Royal Guard faced a legal challenge alleging bias in the selection process.