The official nominations for the 98th Academy Awards have been announced, bringing an end to weeks of global anticipation. In India, there had been strong expectations around several films, especially with Kantara Chapter 1 and followed by Mahavatar Narasimha, which were seen as promising contenders during the awards buzz. However, with the final nominations now out, has not made it to the final list.

Among the titles that were in the nomination race were Homebound, Tanvi: The Great, Dashavatar, Kantara: Chapter 1, and Mahavatar Narasimha. The announcement of the final nominations has come as a setback for regional cinema to see Kannada films gain recognition on the global stage this year.

Meanwhile, director Ryan Coogler’s horror film Sinners has created history by receiving nominations in a record number of categories. The film has been nominated in 16 major categories, making it one of the most talked-about titles in this year’s Oscar race.

Homebound, directed by Neeraj Ghaywan and backed by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions, was India’s official entry this year. The film stars Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor, and had generated strong buzz along with significant international attention. Despite this, Homebound did not secure a place in the final nominations.

With the nomination process now complete, attention turns to the Academy Awards ceremony, which is scheduled to take place on March 15.