Rajkummar Rao's Newton which was India's official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars 2018, is out the race for the honour. Amit V Masurkar directorial Newton garnered immense praise in India from various quarters including both Bollywood celebrities and film critics. Rajkummar Rao, who played a government clerk in the film, raked in appreciation for his stellar performance. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Thursday announced that nine features will advance to the next round of voting in the Foreign Language Film category for the 90th Academy Awards, according to the official website of the Oscars.
"Newton", directed by Amit V. Masurkar and starring the stellar Rajkummar Rao in a story set against the backdrop of elections in the world's largest democracy, was not a part of it. The shortlisted films have been selected from 92 titles that had originally been considered in the category.
"A Fantastic Woman" (Chile), "In the Fade" (Germany), "On Body and Soula (Hungary), "Foxtrot" (Israel), "The Insult" (Lebanon), "Loveless" (Russia), "Felicite" (Senegal), "The Wound" (South Africa) and "The Square" (Sweden) have made the cut to the shortlist.
Nominations for all categories of the 90th Academy Awards will be announced on January 23. The Oscars ceremony will be held on March 4 at the Dolby Theatre here.
So far, "Mother India", "Salaam Bombay!" and "Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India" are the only Indian films that made it to the top five in the Best Foreign Language Film category at the Academy Awards, but none have won the honour.
Newton is black-comedy written and directed by Amit V Masurkar. It is Masurkar's second directorial venture. Earlier, he helmed 2013 film Sulemani Keeda. Rajkummar Rao won Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Actor for his performance in the film. The film is regarded as one of the most profitable films of the year 2017.
(With IANS Inputs)
