A Historic First: 3 Indian Films Have Been Nominated For Oscars

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recently announced the 10 categories for the upcoming Oscars in 2023. Wherein three Indian films have been nominated in separate categories; including 'All That Breathes' for Documentary Feature Film, 'The Elephant Whisperers' in Documentary Short Film and RRR's famous catchy number 'Naatu Naatu' for the Best Original Song. 

I. All That Breathes

2022 witnessed the release of the documentary feature, ‘All That Breathes’ set amidst the darkening backdrop of Delhi's apocalyptic rising. Two brothers, Nadeem and Saud devote their lives to protect a majestic bird essential to the ecosystem of the city. The ‘kite brothers’ invest their time into caring for the creatures amid the rising environmental toxicity and social unrest. The film explores the chronicle of inter-species co-existence and overlapping connotations of faith. 

You can watch the trailer here:

II. The Elephant Whisperers

Following similar undertones, a Netflix film ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ narrates the story of Bomman and Bellie, a couple based in South India. Who devote their lives to caring for an orphaned baby elephant named Raghu, fostering a unique family that tests the barrier between the human and the animal world. “When I first met the baby, he was tugging at my clothes like a child,” Belli says in the film, “I felt his love.” The film captures a surrogate relationship unlike any other showcased in Indian cinema before. 

You can watch the trailer here:

III. Naatu Naatu (RRR)

In a historic development, the trending number ‘Naatu Naatu’ has become the first Indian song to be nominated for the Academy Awards. Composed by MM Keeravaani and penned by Kala Bhairava and Rahul Sipligunj. The song recently won a Golden Globe Award and was previously very well received by the masses as part of SS Rajamouli’s pan-India film 'RRR' that follows a pre-independence fictional story woven around two real-life Indian revolutionaries. 

You can listen to the track here:

A step closer to Oscar glory, now all eyes are set on the 95th Academy Awards. The only Indian films perviously nominated for Oscars have been 'Mother India', 'Salaam Bombay' and 'Lagaan'. It is great time for Indian cinema to finally be recognised at an international stage. 

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