'Jai Bhim', 'Marakkar' make it to Oscars 2022 shortlist for Best Picture

Los Angeles/Thiruvananthapuram: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on January 20 (Thursday) issued a list of 276 films that are eligible for the 94th Oscars. Among the listed films, Suriya's real-life inspired courtroom drama Jai Bhim and Mohanlal's period war film Marakkar Arabikadalinte Simham are India's official entry at the Academy this year. The films have been shortlisted for the Best Feature Film category.

Directed by Priyadarshan, 'Marakkar' is one of the most expensive films in the history of Malayalam cinema. It narrates the epic tale of Kunjali Marakkar IV, a Malabar sea lord and his epic battles against the Portuguese.

'Jai Bhim', which raised the hackles of the PMK, a political party in Tamil Nadu that represents mainly the Vanniyar community, is based on a true incident in 1993, involving a case fought by former Madras High Court Justice K. Chandru, when he was an advocate. Behind him in this legal battle was Sengeni's wife, Rajakannu.

The only other film to make the cut from South Asia is Bhutan's 'Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom', a 2019 film directed by Pawo Choyning Dorji. It had its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival.

The voting for the Oscar nominations is set to begin on Thursday, January 27, and it will continue until Tuesday, February 1. The announcement limits the eligibility year to 10 months. Last year, the Academy had extended it until February 28, 2021, because of the pandemic.

All of the presumed Oscar contenders, reports 'Variety', are on the list. These include 'Being the Ricardos' (Amazon Studios), 'Belfast' (Focus Features), 'CODA' (Apple Original Films), 'Dune' (Warner Bros), 'Encanto' (Walt Disney Pictures), 'House of Gucci' (MGM/United Artists), 'The Power of the Dog' (Netflix), 'A Quiet Place Part II' (Paramount Pictures), 'Spencer' (Neon/Topic Studios), 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' (Sony Pictures) and 'West Side Story' (20th Century Studios).

Nominations for the 94th Academy Awards, according to 'Variety', will be announced on Tuesday, February 8. The ceremony is scheduled to be held on Sunday, March 27, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood and will be televised on the American network ABC and in more than 200 territories worldwide.