Randeep Hooda had directed and also played the main lead in the biopic of controversial freedom fighter, VD Savarkar. Titled Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, the movie was released in theatres on March 22, 2024, the movie opened to poor reviews and didn't work well at the box office. However, on September 24, there were some reports claiming that Swatantrya Veer Savarkar was selected as India's official entry for Oscars 2025. This left us utterly surprised because, from what we know, it was Kiran Rao's social satire Laapataa Ladies that was selected as India's official entry for the 97th Academy Awards. ‘Laapataa Ladies’ Is India’s Official Entry to Oscars 2025: From Other Nominees to Where To Watch It Online – All You Need To Know About Selection of Kiran Rao’s Directorial!

Major publications like the Times of India had covered a story claiming that Swatantrya Veer Savarkar was officially selected as one of India's entries for Oscars 2025. Producer Anand Pandit had also shared the 'news' on Instagram, while also giving a statement to the media. He had said, "This is a moment of great pride, not just for our team, but for everyone who believes in telling stories of our unsung heroes. Being chosen as one of India’s entries for the Oscars is a huge validation of our efforts."

Anand Pandit's Post on the Oscars 2025 Update

 

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Times of India Sharing The News

 

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Popular Paparazzo Viral Bhayani Sharing The Same News

 

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FFI Jury Has Not Selected 'Swatantrya Veer Savarkar' as India's Official Entry for Oscars 2025

Let's state some facts here. Every country can select only one movie to be submitted for Best International Feature Film for the Oscars, and for the 97th Academy Awards, the Film Federation of India (FFI) jury had chosen Laapataa Ladies. Not Swatantrya Veer Savarkar. Nor any other movie. Period. Kiran Rao’s ‘Laapataa Ladies’ or Payal Kapadia’s ‘All We Imagine As Light’? Netizens Furiously Debate India’s 2025 Oscar Entry Choice.

Truth is, Swatantrya Veer Savarkar was one of the 29 Indian movies submitted to the FFI for consideration as India's official entry for the Oscars 2025. However, the film was not shortlisted by the jury, but any producer can submit their movie provided it meets the eligibility rules set by the Academy. A fee of INR 1.25 lakh. As per reports, the jury had to watch 29 movies before pinning their hopes on Laapataa Ladies. Swatantrya Veer Savarkar was not even in the final five shortlisted movies.

Some of the other movies that were submitted to the jury were Payal Kapadia's Grand Prix-winning All We Imagine as Light, Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Animal, Anand Ekarshi's Aattam, Kabir Khan's Chandu Champion, among others. Even Chhota Bheem and the Curse of Damayaan was submitted!

'Swatantrya Veer Savarkar' - Private Submission?

While Swatantrya Veer Savarkar may not be India's official entry for the Oscars 2025, the producers could have still submitted it to compete at the Academy Awards. This can be done for various categories, including Best Picture, Best Actor, etc.

Not for Best International Feature Film, though, which the Academy only considers movies officially submitted by their respective countries. ‘Laapataa Ladies’: ‘Mixture of Submission and Dominance’! Netizens Slam FFI’s Description for ‘Indian Women’ in Oscars 2025 Entry Selection for Kiran Rao’s Film

But it is entirely the producer's prerogative, and the movie has to go through stages of shortlisting before entering the final five or ten. Quite a few Indian movies in the past have been submitted by the producers through this process, like Suriya's Soorarai Pottru. This may excite the fans for some time, but the truth is, nearly every time, these movies are evicted in the early stage of shortlisting.

Only SS Rajamouli's RRR managed to achieve a breakthrough through such private submission, going on to win Best Song for "Naatu Naatu" at the 95th Academy Awards. By then, RRR had already created a storm in the West, so the task was easier. For a movie like Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, this means very heavy lobbying, which also involves heavy cost, and unlike a certain section of the Indian audience, the American jury members may not be interested in an allegedly propagandist feature film from India. On the other hand, Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine as Light has a better chance through such private submission considering its Cannes glory and that its distributor, Janus Films, can help in lobbying hard for the movie as it did with Drive My Car.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 25, 2024 09:04 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).