Anurag Kashyap criticizes India’s Oscar selection process

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has criticized the selection process for India’s official entry into the Academy Awards, suggesting that the country often chooses the “wrong films” due to political influence within the Film Federation of India (FFI).

Kashyap noted that even when strong candidates like ‘The Lunchbox’ or ‘All We Imagine As Light’ were available, the selection process failed to capitalize on them. He advised that for a film to be competitive, it must secure international festival screenings or US distribution to meet eligibility and visibility requirements.

In response, Santosh Davakhar, the director of the Marathi psychological thriller ‘Gondhal’—India’s official entry for the 98th Academy Awards—urged the public to watch the film before passing judgment. Davakhar stated that the film was designed for the big screen rather than streaming platforms and emphasized the responsibility of representing India on a global stage.