‘Jallikattu’, India’s official entry at Oscars 2021

The Samikhsya Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Critically acclaimed Malayalam film Jallikatu has been selected as India’s official entry for the forthcoming 93rd Academy Awards, 2021.

The film has got the entry in the Best International Feature Film category.

Made in 2019, the action film is directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery with a screenplay by S. Hareesh and R. Jayakumar based on the short story ‘Maoist’ by Hareesh.

The film stars Antony Varghese, Chemban Vinod Jose, Sabumon Abdusamad and Santhy Balachandran.

The plot follows a bull that escapes from a slaughterhouse in a hilly remote village and the entire village men gathering to hunt down the animal.

The film was premiered at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival and received widespread critical acclaim.

It was showcased at the 24th Busan International Film Festival under the section ‘A Window on Asian Cinema’.

Lijo Jose Pellissery received the Best Director Trophy at the 50th International Film Festival of India in Goa last year.

The film was picked up from among 27 nominations for the official entry.

It is the third Malayalam film after Guru and Adaminte Makan Abu to be chosen as India’s official entry to the Oscars.