Gujarati film Chhello Show (Last Film Show) is India’s official Oscars entry. The Film Federation of India, which made the announcement on Tuesday (September 20), also faced backlash on social media for sending a Gujarati film as the official entry of India for the Oscars and not SS Rajamouli’s RRR.
Many film critics along with netizens took to social media to call out the decision of the Federation of India. While many called the decision “ridiculous”.
However, it seems like there is still a chance for Ram Charan and Jr NTR-starrer RRR to get nominated. Yes, you read it right. Like Parasite or Life Is Beautiful these films can go in main category.
Film Federation of India President producer TP Aggarwal says inside the jury room, the Pan Nalin directed Gujarati film was a “unanimous” choice, with popular films like RRR and The Kashmir Files holding no competition against it.
The coming-of-age drama is set against the backdrop of cinemas in India that saw the transition from celluloid to digital, where hundreds of single-screen cinemas stand dilapidated or have disappeared altogether. The film stars Bhavin Rabari, Vikas Bata, Richa Meena, Bhavesh Shrimali, Dipen Raval and Rahul Koli.
TP Aggarwal told that Chhello Show was selected by a jury of 17 diverse voices from the film industry. The Gujarati movie competed with several big films of the year, including the recently released Ranbir Kapoor-Alia Bhatt fronted Brahmastra, SS Rajamouli’s RRR, R Madhavan’s directorial Rocketry – The Nambi Effect, Nagraj Manjule’s Jhund starring Amitabh Bachchan, Rajkummar Rao-Bhumi Pednekar starrer Badhaai Do and Ayushmann Khurrana-led Anek.
“Chhello Show was a unanimous decision by the jury. Out of the 17, all of them said we need this film. We are never inside so this was completely the jury’s decision. They said it is an Indian film that should go (for Oscar),” the president said.
Chhello Show had its world premiere at Robert DeNiro’s Tribeca Film Festival. The film will release in theatres in Gujarat and on select screens across India on October 14. The film is produced by Roy Kapur Films, Jugaad Motion Pictures, Monsoon Films, Chhello Show LLP, and Marc Duale.
