Ramayana eyes Oscars! Ranbir Kapoor starrer submitted for 99th Academy Awards, says report
The Oscar race is heating up for Indian cinema, with Ramayana: Part 1 making a bid for the 99th Academy Awards. NDTV has exclusively learnt that the makers of the Ranbir Kapoor-starrer have submitted the film for consideration at the upcoming Oscars.
The development comes even as Marathi film Gondhal has been selected as India's official entry in the International Feature Film category.
However, India's official Oscar selection does not prevent other Indian films from independently entering the race.
Films that meet the Academy's eligibility requirements can submit themselves for consideration, regardless of whether they have been chosen as their country's official representative.
How can Ramayana qualify for the Oscars?
Under the Academy's standard theatrical eligibility rules, an independent feature film must complete a qualifying theatrical run of at least seven consecutive days in an eligible US metropolitan area.
These include Los Angeles County, New York City, the San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth and Atlanta, among other qualifying locations.
The film must also meet the Academy's prescribed daily screening requirements.
Once the qualifying theatrical run is completed, filmmakers or distributors can submit the Oscars General Entry Form online, accompanied by the necessary theatre credentials and film credits.
The International Feature Film category traditionally follows a separate selection process, with each country permitted to submit one official entry through a recognised selection committee.
Gondhal is India's official entry, Angh also eligible
While Gondhal has been chosen as India's official entry, another Indian film has also secured a route into the International Feature Film category.
Naga-language film Angh became eligible for consideration after winning the Platform Award at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
The Academy has introduced an additional pathway for independent international films, allowing titles that win certain prestigious awards at designated international film festivals to become eligible for consideration without going through their country's official selection committee.
This means Indian cinema could have multiple contenders in the International Feature Film Oscar race despite the one-country-one-official-entry rule.
Ramayana's box office performance
Meanwhile, Ramayana: Part 1 has been enjoying a strong run at the box office. Released on November 5, the film has reportedly collected over ₹403.95 crore in India and approximately ₹673.90 crore worldwide by Day 6.
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the epic features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana.
With its Oscar submission, the film is now looking to extend its reach beyond the domestic box office and make its presence felt on the international awards circuit.
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