Why did UK choose a Hindi film for Oscars 2025 while India didn't? Here's all about 'Santosh'

Hindi film starring Rock On fame Shahana Goswami and Panchayat fame Sunita Rajwar that had its world premiere in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes Film Festival 2024, Satonsh has been chosen as United Kingdom's official for the Oscars 2025 under Best International Feature Film category. The decision has been announced days after India sent Laapataa Ladies to Oscar race. Wondering why did UK choose a Hindi film? Here's all you need to know!

Why did UK choose a Hindi film as it's official entry?

The crime drama is written and directed by British-Indian film director and documentarian Sandhya Suri, who was born in England to an Indian man Yash Pal Suri who had migrated from India to work at a hospital in Teesside. It is an international co-production and has been backed pre-dominantly by British producers that include Mike Goodridge, James Bowsher, Balthazar de Ganay, and Alan McAlex.

Why was the film not selected as India's Oscar entry?

The eligibility criteria includes:

1. The film must be released in the country.
2. The film must be shown in a commercial theater for seven consecutive days
3. The film's original language should be more than 50 perecent non-English
4. The film must be longer than 40 minutes, since it is a feature film category.

Since, Santosh has not yet been released in India, the film wasn't eligible to be sent to Oscars for a nomination from the country.

What is Santosh about?

From Cannes 2024 to Oscars 2025!! So grateful that i got to be part of this historic moment. every actor's living dream. Bravo team Santosh??@TheAcademy @Festival_Cannes #Santosh #Oscars2025 https://t.co/3IyUkKCAkB

¡ª Sanjay Bishnoi (@sanjaybishnoi07) September 25, 2024

The story of the movie revolves around a 28-year-old Hindu widow (Shahana Goswami) who inherits her husband's job as a police officer through a government scheme. As she gets into her new job, she is entangled in the institutional corruption. She collaborates with a veteran detective Inspector named Sharma, essayed by Sunita Rajwar, to investigate the murder of a teenage girl from the lower-caste Dalit community. The movie was shot in Uttar Pradesh, India.

Santosh's UK release

This is how it should be !
Congratulations Sandhya.
The film #Santosh which was in the #Cannes ¡®UnCertain regard section¡¯ is UK¡¯s submission for Oscars entry
and
This is how it shouldn¡¯t be that @PayalKapadia86 ¡®s
Film #AsWeImagineAsLight which won #Cannes Grand Prix is not¡­ https://t.co/BcEKGsjScY

¡ª Vinod Kapri (@vinodkapri) September 25, 2024

After the it's premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, Metrograph Pictures bagged North American distribution rights following which it got a massive release in the country. For record, the UK has been nominated for the Best International Feature category at the Academy Awards three times, winning its first Oscar earlier last year with Jonathan Glazer's Holocaust drama The Zone of Interest.

Santosh will now compete against India's official Oscar entry Laapataa Ladies to bag a nomination in Best International Feature Film category. The Oscars shortlist will be announced on December 17, 2024, while the nominations will be announced on January 17, 2025. People think if the film wins, we will claim it to be Indian. "This wins then it's actually a disgrace. This could¡¯ve been India's entry," one of the users wrote. "If it wins though, we are sure to claim it¡¯s Indian lol, for us, we are getting two entries," said another users.

Also Read: Amid backlash, FFI explains why 'Laapataa Ladies' won over 'All That We Imagine As Light' as Oscar entry

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