MALAYALAM feature “Jallikattu”, directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery, has been selected as India’s official entry for the International Feature Film category at the 93rd Academy Awards, the Film Federation of India (FFI) announced on Wednesday. “Jallikattu”, which was unanimously chosen from 27 entries across Hindi, Marathi, and other languages, is about a tribe of men coming together to stop a bull that has run amok in their village. “There were a total of 27 films that had entered the race from Hindi, Malayalam, Odia, and Marathi. The film which has been nominated by the jury to represent India at the Oscars is the Malayalam film ‘Jallikattu’.
“It is a film that really brings out the raw problems which are there in human beings, that is we are worse than animals,” filmmaker Rahul Rawai said. l, Chairman, Jury Board, Film Federation of India, told reporters in an online press conference. The film, which derives its name from the popular-yet-controversial bull-taming event from the south, is based on a short story by Hareesh.
It features actors Antony Varghese, Chemban Vinod Jose, Sabumon Abdusamad and Santhy Balachandran. Apart from “Jallikattu, other films that were competing to be named as India’s Oscar entry included “Chhapaak”, “Shakuntala Devi”, “Chhalaang”, “Gulabo Sitabo”, “Eeb Allay Ooo!”, “The Sky is Pink”, “Bulbbul” in the Hindi language and internationally-celebrated Marathi feature “The Disciple”. Calling Pellissery a “very competent director”, known for several critically acclaimed films like “Angamaly Diaries” and “Ea Ma Yau”, Rawail said, “Jallikattu” is a production that the country should be proud of.
