Lijo Jose Pellissery's Jallikattu is India's Oscar entry

Malayalam filmmaker Lijo Jose Pellissery's critically acclaimed feature, Jallikattu is India's entry for the Best International Feature category for the 93rd Academy Awards. A 14-member committee of the Film Federation of India made the announcement.

Jallikattu, based on S Hareesh's story Maoist, revolves around the chaos caused by an escaped buffalo in a village, and the violent attempts by groups of men to capture it and claim the trophy for themselves. 

Starring Chemban Vinod Jose and Antony Varghese, the film made its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last year.

Rahul Rawail, committee chairman, Jury Board Film Federation of India, said, “Jallikattu brings out the raw problems that are there in human beings. The emotions that came up really moved all of us. We felt that this is a unique ensemble of characters and locations.”

Jallikattu was among 27 submissions from India, which included Shoojit Sircar's Gulabo Sitabo, Hansal Mehta's Chhalaang, Safdar Rahman's Chippa, Chaitanya Tamhane's The Disciple, Geethu Mohandas' Moothon, and Hardik Mehta's Kaamyaab among others. 

The awards ceremony will be held on April 25, 2021, in Los Angeles.