Top 10 Indian movies nominated for Oscars over the years
The Academy Awards are a significant event for movie fans, and Hollywood has capitalized on this fact since its inception. The Oscars are fundamentally a westernized event that doesn’t cater to other areas of the world and someplace that has left a significant hole as a result of Hollywood’s amazing movie creation. The South Asian film industry is by far one of the underrepresented groups, and the Indian diaspora has been disappointed by the low number of Indian films that have received Oscar nominations. However, we can only hold out hope that things will improve shortly. Here is a list of the films that did, nevertheless, make the cut. Read on.
- The White Tiger (2021)
The White Tiger, a film written and directed by Ramin Bahrani, is based on the same-titled book by Aravind Adiga. The movie, which features Adarsh Gourav, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Rajkummar Rao in the key roles, depicts the life of Balram, an impoverished Indian man who utilizes his intellect to get out of his situation. He later starts driving for a wealthy family, but a car accident leaves him disturbed and worried about the security of his family. He takes matters into his own hands (things get pretty grimy here) and makes an effort to live up to the appellation of “The White Tiger,” a metaphor that has been deftly exploited in the film, to reverse the occurrences. In the film, there is the unmistakable class division that is conveyed through fine details. The White Tiger, an Indian film that was nominated for an Oscar, undoubtedly packs a punch.
2. Writing with Fire (2021)
Writing with Fire, a critically acclaimed documentary directed by Sushmit Ghosh and Rintu Thomas, presents the story of journalists who are in charge of running the Dalit women-led daily Khabar Lahariya. It discusses the crucial transition from print to digital media via cell phones. It has taken a 14-year journey to become the first new agency led by oppressed women who bravely accept the challenge of reporting without a shred of fear. The trio of the boss, chief reporter Meera, and crime reporter Suneeta take on the enormous challenge of reporting from the most unstable areas of the nation while bringing to light urgent matters that many wouldn’t have the audacity to bring up.
3. Barfi (2012)
Anurag Basu and Ronnie Screwvala of UTV Motion Pictures produced the 2012 Indian Hindi-language romantic comedy-drama film Barfi!, which was directed by Basu. Along with Priyanka Chopra, Ileana D’Cruz, and Ranbir Kapoor, the movie also stars Saurabh Shukla, Ashish Vidyarthi, Haradhan Bandopadhyay, and Jisshu Sengupta in lead and supporting parts. The story of Murphy “Barfi” Johnson, a deaf-mute young boy who forms a special bond with two young girls named Shruti Ghosh and Jhilmil Chatterjee while frequently being pursued by a local police officer named Inspector Sudhanshu Dutta for his nuisances, is told in this movie, which is set in 1970s Darjeeling and Kolkata.
4. Water (2005)
One nominee, Deepa Mehta’s “Water,” a contender for best foreign language picture, will already have accomplished its greatest win simply by existing tomorrow night at the Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles.
She spent barely two days recording the tale of an 8-year-old widow rejected by conventional culture in the holy city of Varanasi when rampaging Hindu nationalists in India destroyed her set.
Five years and two films after being asked to leave by the authorities, Ms. Mehta started over in the neighboring country of Sri Lanka. She endured death threats, lawsuits, and an unexpected reconciliation with a distant daughter during the often grueling 11-year journey that this movie took to reach the screen. So, even if it weren’t quite anticlimactic, an Oscar wouldn’t have been the most amazing thing to have happened to Ms. Mehta. In a recent interview, she called “Water” “one of those little pictures that are blessed,” adding, “I simply feel that maybe if a film has gone through this type of journey, the payoff has been so generous.”
5. Little Terrorist (2004)
It appears that this family is gifted in many ways. One of the most sentimental Indian films to be nominated for an Oscar was Little Terrorist, a 2004 short film directed by the son of renowned fashion designer Ritu Kumar. It has Sahaj Sorathiya, Vats Gajera, Sushil Sharma, and Megnaa Mehta in the key parts and, aside from the genocide, has a mild “The Boy in Striped Pajamas” flavor. The story centers around Jamal, a 10-year-old Muslim boy from Pakistan, and how he crossed the border into India while taking part in a fun game of cricket. Although for some people this would be a delicate subject, Kumar handles it well. Jamal is given shelter by a wary Bhola and his niece Rani; their distrust is bolstered by his innocence.
6. Lagaan (2001)
The film, which was directed by Ashutosh Gowariker and produced by Aamir Khan, stars Paul Blackthorne, Rachel Shelley, Aamir Khan, debutante Gracy Singh, and Khan. The plot, which is set in the fictional community of Champaner, centers on the people who wait outside Cantonment grounds to meet the king—who, incidentally, is playing cricket—in the hopes that they will be exempt from paying the tax because of the drought. However, things do not look good for them when Bhuvan, a young farmer who appears to find the game humorous, dares them to a game in exchange for a three-year tax exemption. The locals begin to work together to defeat the British and avoid the harsh tax levy. It did well at the box office, finishing as the third-highest-grossing Hindi film of 2001 and the third Indian film to receive an Oscar nomination.
7. Salaam Bombay! (1988)
Even though Mira Nair starred in Monsoon Wedding, her directorial debut was what launched this outstanding director. The slums of Mumbai have long been a source of inspiration for artists, from the hip Gully Boy to the commercial Slumdog Millionaire, but Salaam Bombay! is the original. It was one of the best Indian films to be nominated for an Oscar, and it was inspired by the experiences of Mumbai’s slum kids. Shafiq Syed, Raghuvir Yadav, Anita Kanwar, Nana Patekar, Hansa Vithal, and Chanda Sharma were the film’s leading actors. It was a revelation for the world’s audience. Krishna, a small child, is the main character of the story and is tasked with collecting money to compensate for the damage to his older brother’s motorcycle. He boards the train to Bombay as a result of his failure. He is quickly robbed, but he ends up becoming friends with the criminals who take him to the famed Falkland Road red light district, the seedy part of the city.
8. An Encounter with Faces (1978)
An Encounter with Faces, a film directed by the renowned Vidhu Vinod Chopra, provides us with a detailed look at the life of juvenile offenders from the Mumbai neighborhoods of Dongri and Mankhurd. A truly heartbreaking drama, it shines a light on the children who describe their predicament, socioeconomic situation, and challenge. It is a great approach to becoming familiar with the pressing problems facing the nation. Although it’s not the most enjoyable movie to watch, it makes a good effort to increase viewer knowledge. The focus on rehabilitation in this film surely draws attention and draws attention to the stark societal disparities.
9. The House That Ananda Built (1968)
The House That Ananda Built, a 1968 short documentary directed by Fali Bilimoria, centers on Ananda Karan, a prosperous Nagpur-based Odiya merchant. It narrates the tale of this family and provides us with insight into their life, especially that of Ananda, his children, and his views both before and after independence, as well as how those beliefs had impacted his family. As we watch Ananda reflect, it incites nostalgia in the audience and encourages us to recall earlier ideas, thoughts, and lifestyles.
10. Mother India (1957)
Mehroob Khan’s Mother India, a renowned movie from 1957, introduced the world to the potential of Indian cinematography. It says a lot that the first Indian film to receive an Oscar nomination was the one starring Nargis, Raaj Kumar, Rajendra Kumar, and Sunil Dutt. The protagonist of the tale is a woman named Radha, who is viewed as the village’s “mother” in essence. The movie depicted her struggle to raise her two sons and her struggle to survive while dealing with other looming problems and a nefarious moneylender. It also portrayed Nargis as a role model and the struggle of both India’s women and the nation as a whole. The title of the film is significant since it refuted American author Katherine Mayo’s misrepresentation of Indian culture in her book Mother India (1927). The aftermath of its 1947 independence serves as the backdrop of the film and suggests a strong sense of nationalism.
Top 10 Indian movies nominated for Oscars over the years
The Academy Awards are a significant event for movie fans, and Hollywood has capitalized on this fact since its inception. The Oscars are fundamentally a westernized event that doesn’t cater to other areas of the world and someplace that has left a significant hole as a result of Hollywood’s amazing movie creation. The South Asian film industry is by far one of the underrepresented groups, and the Indian diaspora has been disappointed by the low number of Indian films that have received Oscar nominations. However, we can only hold out hope that things will improve shortly. Here is a list of the films that did, nevertheless, make the cut. Read on.
- The White Tiger (2021)
The White Tiger, a film written and directed by Ramin Bahrani, is based on the same-titled book by Aravind Adiga. The movie, which features Adarsh Gourav, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Rajkummar Rao in the key roles, depicts the life of Balram, an impoverished Indian man who utilizes his intellect to get out of his situation. He later starts driving for a wealthy family, but a car accident leaves him disturbed and worried about the security of his family. He takes matters into his own hands (things get pretty grimy here) and makes an effort to live up to the appellation of “The White Tiger,” a metaphor that has been deftly exploited in the film, to reverse the occurrences. In the film, there is the unmistakable class division that is conveyed through fine details. The White Tiger, an Indian film that was nominated for an Oscar, undoubtedly packs a punch.
2. Writing with Fire (2021)
Writing with Fire, a critically acclaimed documentary directed by Sushmit Ghosh and Rintu Thomas, presents the story of journalists who are in charge of running the Dalit women-led daily Khabar Lahariya. It discusses the crucial transition from print to digital media via cell phones. It has taken a 14-year journey to become the first new agency led by oppressed women who bravely accept the challenge of reporting without a shred of fear. The trio of the boss, chief reporter Meera, and crime reporter Suneeta take on the enormous challenge of reporting from the most unstable areas of the nation while bringing to light urgent matters that many wouldn’t have the audacity to bring up.
3. Barfi (2012)
Anurag Basu and Ronnie Screwvala of UTV Motion Pictures produced the 2012 Indian Hindi-language romantic comedy-drama film Barfi!, which was directed by Basu. Along with Priyanka Chopra, Ileana D’Cruz, and Ranbir Kapoor, the movie also stars Saurabh Shukla, Ashish Vidyarthi, Haradhan Bandopadhyay, and Jisshu Sengupta in lead and supporting parts. The story of Murphy “Barfi” Johnson, a deaf-mute young boy who forms a special bond with two young girls named Shruti Ghosh and Jhilmil Chatterjee while frequently being pursued by a local police officer named Inspector Sudhanshu Dutta for his nuisances, is told in this movie, which is set in 1970s Darjeeling and Kolkata.
4. Water (2005)
One nominee, Deepa Mehta’s “Water,” a contender for best foreign language picture, will already have accomplished its greatest win simply by existing tomorrow night at the Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles.
She spent barely two days recording the tale of an 8-year-old widow rejected by conventional culture in the holy city of Varanasi when rampaging Hindu nationalists in India destroyed her set.
Five years and two films after being asked to leave by the authorities, Ms. Mehta started over in the neighboring country of Sri Lanka. She endured death threats, lawsuits, and an unexpected reconciliation with a distant daughter during the often grueling 11-year journey that this movie took to reach the screen. So, even if it weren’t quite anticlimactic, an Oscar wouldn’t have been the most amazing thing to have happened to Ms. Mehta. In a recent interview, she called “Water” “one of those little pictures that are blessed,” adding, “I simply feel that maybe if a film has gone through this type of journey, the payoff has been so generous.”
5. Little Terrorist (2004)
It appears that this family is gifted in many ways. One of the most sentimental Indian films to be nominated for an Oscar was Little Terrorist, a 2004 short film directed by the son of renowned fashion designer Ritu Kumar. It has Sahaj Sorathiya, Vats Gajera, Sushil Sharma, and Megnaa Mehta in the key parts and, aside from the genocide, has a mild “The Boy in Striped Pajamas” flavor. The story centers around Jamal, a 10-year-old Muslim boy from Pakistan, and how he crossed the border into India while taking part in a fun game of cricket. Although for some people this would be a delicate subject, Kumar handles it well. Jamal is given shelter by a wary Bhola and his niece Rani; their distrust is bolstered by his innocence.
6. Lagaan (2001)
The film, which was directed by Ashutosh Gowariker and produced by Aamir Khan, stars Paul Blackthorne, Rachel Shelley, Aamir Khan, debutante Gracy Singh, and Khan. The plot, which is set in the fictional community of Champaner, centers on the people who wait outside Cantonment grounds to meet the king—who, incidentally, is playing cricket—in the hopes that they will be exempt from paying the tax because of the drought. However, things do not look good for them when Bhuvan, a young farmer who appears to find the game humorous, dares them to a game in exchange for a three-year tax exemption. The locals begin to work together to defeat the British and avoid the harsh tax levy. It did well at the box office, finishing as the third-highest-grossing Hindi film of 2001 and the third Indian film to receive an Oscar nomination.
7. Salaam Bombay! (1988)
Even though Mira Nair starred in Monsoon Wedding, her directorial debut was what launched this outstanding director. The slums of Mumbai have long been a source of inspiration for artists, from the hip Gully Boy to the commercial Slumdog Millionaire, but Salaam Bombay! is the original. It was one of the best Indian films to be nominated for an Oscar, and it was inspired by the experiences of Mumbai’s slum kids. Shafiq Syed, Raghuvir Yadav, Anita Kanwar, Nana Patekar, Hansa Vithal, and Chanda Sharma were the film’s leading actors. It was a revelation for the world’s audience. Krishna, a small child, is the main character of the story and is tasked with collecting money to compensate for the damage to his older brother’s motorcycle. He boards the train to Bombay as a result of his failure. He is quickly robbed, but he ends up becoming friends with the criminals who take him to the famed Falkland Road red light district, the seedy part of the city.
8. An Encounter with Faces (1978)
An Encounter with Faces, a film directed by the renowned Vidhu Vinod Chopra, provides us with a detailed look at the life of juvenile offenders from the Mumbai neighborhoods of Dongri and Mankhurd. A truly heartbreaking drama, it shines a light on the children who describe their predicament, socioeconomic situation, and challenge. It is a great approach to becoming familiar with the pressing problems facing the nation. Although it’s not the most enjoyable movie to watch, it makes a good effort to increase viewer knowledge. The focus on rehabilitation in this film surely draws attention and draws attention to the stark societal disparities.
9. The House That Ananda Built (1968)
The House That Ananda Built, a 1968 short documentary directed by Fali Bilimoria, centers on Ananda Karan, a prosperous Nagpur-based Odiya merchant. It narrates the tale of this family and provides us with insight into their life, especially that of Ananda, his children, and his views both before and after independence, as well as how those beliefs had impacted his family. As we watch Ananda reflect, it incites nostalgia in the audience and encourages us to recall earlier ideas, thoughts, and lifestyles.
10. Mother India (1957)
Mehroob Khan’s Mother India, a renowned movie from 1957, introduced the world to the potential of Indian cinematography. It says a lot that the first Indian film to receive an Oscar nomination was the one starring Nargis, Raaj Kumar, Rajendra Kumar, and Sunil Dutt. The protagonist of the tale is a woman named Radha, who is viewed as the village’s “mother” in essence. The movie depicted her struggle to raise her two sons and her struggle to survive while dealing with other looming problems and a nefarious moneylender. It also portrayed Nargis as a role model and the struggle of both India’s women and the nation as a whole. The title of the film is significant since it refuted American author Katherine Mayo’s misrepresentation of Indian culture in her book Mother India (1927). The aftermath of its 1947 independence serves as the backdrop of the film and suggests a strong sense of nationalism.