India's 'Court' among 81 foreign film entries at Oscars

It's a proud moment for India. Chaitanya Tamhane's debut Marathi movie "Court" is among 81 foreign film entries at Oscars

Los Angeles: Chaitanya Tamhane's debut Marathi movie "Court", India's official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film category of the upcoming 88th Academy Awards, will be facing stiff competition from 80 other films from different countries.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced that in all, 81 countries have submitted films for consideration in the Foreign Language Film category for the 2016 Oscars, reports variety.com.

"Court" -- a courtroom drama that brings alive injustices of India's legal system -- will face stiff competition from films like Jami's "Moor" (Pakistan), Abu Shahed Emon's "Jalal’s Story” (Bangladesh), Claudio Caligari's “Don’t Be Bad” (Italy), Deniz Gamze Erguven's “Mustang” (France), Greg Sneddon's “Arrows of the Thunder Dragon” (Australia), Nischal Basnet's “Talakjung vs Tulke” (Nepal) and Kevin Allen's “Under Milk Wood” (Britain), among others.

Featuring actors like Vivek Gomber, Vira Sathidar, Geetanjali Kulkarni, Pradeep Joshi, Usha Bane and Shirish Pawar, "Court" -- about a trial which unfolds in a lower court, where the hopes and dreams of the city's ordinary people play out -- won the National Film Award in the Best Feature Film category for 2014.

Italy (14) and France (12) have won the Best Foreign Language Film trophy more than other countries.

India has never won an Oscar in the category, even though "Mother India", "Salaam Bombay!" and "Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India" made it to the top five. 

The final nomination list for the 88th Academy Awards will be announced live on January 14 ahead of the Oscars ceremony on February 28.