There is always an excitement around the entry of Indian films in the race of Oscars. This year gave us spectacular films in Bollywood as well as the regional space. However, who has managed to go past all of them for the Oscars 2019 official contender from India’s Best Foreign Language Film category is Rima Das directed Village Rockstars. The film is based on a village girl who aspires to be a noted guitarist and sets on the journey, despite the male-dominated surroundings.

It must be noted that there were all in all 29 Bollywood as well as regional movies in the competition to enter int0 the award ceremony. Some of them are popular ones like Raazi, Padmaavat Hichki, October, Love Sonia, Gulabjaam, Mahanati, Pihu, Kadvi Hawa, Bhogda, Revaa, Bioscopewala, Manto, 102 Not out, Padman, Bhayanakam, Ajji, Nude, Gali Guliiyan.

These films were critically acclaimed as well as loved by the masses throughout the year. Some of them also are the part of clubs touted be prestigious that are the ‘100 crore clubs.’ Speaking of why the 12-member jury committee chose this film as the official entry, one of the members Anant Mahadevan said, “Village Rockstars is the closest film made by international standards. Very proud and to select this film and send it to the Oscars, “quotes Indian Express. Rima Das’ Village Rockstars, a Film on Guitar Playing Girl Becomes India’s Official Entry to Oscars 2019

Meanwhile, it is interesting how the director chose to shoot the film that passed the great-deal test. Rima told the same publication, “I did not have any storyboard for Village Rockstars. Since there was no crew, I did not use any artificial light. I shot in the magic light — in the morning and afternoon when the sunlight is not harsh. All the actors, barring well-known Assamese actor Kulada Bhattyacharya, who appears as a wise man, are from my village.” The experiment has definitely paid off for the artists and we hope that it climbs the final list just as how Mother India, Salaam Bombay and Lagaan did.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 22, 2018 12:33 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).