- Thursday, May 01, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
The Film Federation of India has said that the Gujarati film, ‘Chhello Show’, which is titled ‘The Last Show’ in English, has been selected as India’s official entry to the Oscars 2023.
“‘Chhello Show’ is India’s official entry for Oscars 2023,” FFI secretary general Supran Sen told Press Trust of India.
According to FFI president TP Aggarwal, “Chhello Show” was unanimously chosen over films such as SS Rajamouli’s ‘RRR’, Ranbir Kapoor-led ‘Brahmastra: Part One Shiva’, Vivek Agnihotri’s ‘The Kashmir Files’ and R Madhavan’s directorial debut ‘Rocketry’.
“The 17 member jury unanimously chose ‘Chhello Show’. There were a total of 13 films of different languages including six in Hindi — ‘Brahmastra’, ‘The Kashmir Files’, ‘Anek’, ‘Jhund’, ‘Badhaai Do’ and ‘Rocketry’ — and one each in Tamil (‘Iravin Nizhal’), Telugu (‘RRR’), Bengali (‘Aparajito’) and Gujarati (‘Chhello Show’) as well as few others,” Aggarwal told PTI.
The coming-of-age film, which has been directed by Pan Nalin, features Bhavin Rabari, Bhavesh Shrimali, Richa Meena, Dipen Raval and Paresh Mehta in important roles.
? JUST IN: Gujarati film ‘Chhello Show’ is India’s official Oscar entry! LONG LIVE REGIONAL CINEMA! ❤️?️ #ChhelloShow #LastFilmShow #Oscars #Oscars2023 pic.twitter.com/OiO1uTOjJ2
— T.S.Suresh (@editorsuresh) September 20, 2022
‘Chhello Show’ will be released in theatres in India on October 14.
Reacting to the news, Nalin said on Twitter, “OMG! What a night this going to be! Gratitude to Film Federation of India and thank you FFI jury members. Thank you for believing in Chhello Show. Now I can breathe again and believe in cinema that entertains, inspires and enlightens! @LastFilmShow1 #ChhelloShow #Oscars (sic)”
OMG! What a night this going to be! Gratitude to Film Federation of India and thank you FFI jury members. Thank you for believing in Chhello Show. Now I can breathe again and believe in cinema that entertains, inspires and enlightens! @LastFilmShow1 #ChhelloShow #Oscars
— Nalin Pan (@PanNalin) September 20, 2022
In a note to the media, he said, ”I could have never imagined such a day would come and bring light and celebration of light. Chhello Show has been enjoying love from around the world but there was an ache in my heart that how do I make India discover it? Now I can breathe again and believe in cinema that entertains, inspires and enlightens! Thank you FFI, Thank you Jury.“
Nalin is best known for directing critically-acclaimed films ‘Samsara’, ‘Valley of Flowers’, and ‘Angry Indian Goddesses’.
Producer Siddharth Roy Kapur said, “We are thrilled and honoured that our film, Last Film Show has been selected to represent India at the Academy Awards. There could not be a more apt time for a film like this one, that celebrates the magic and wonder of cinema and the theatrical experience.
When cinema-going around the world has been disrupted by a pandemic, it reminds audiences anew of the first time they fell in love with the experience of watching a movie in a darkened cinema hall. It is a matter of great pride for us to represent our country with this film, and with the backing of our partners Samuel Goldwyn Films and Orange Studio, we will make sure that we give it our best shot at the Academy Awards!”
The film, which will represent the country in the best international feature film category at the Oscars, is produced by Roy Kapur’s banner Roy Kapur Films, Jugaad Motion Pictures, Monsoon Films, Chhello Show LLP and Marc Duale.
The story pf ‘Chhello Show’ is inspired by Nalin’s own memories of falling in love with movies as a child in rural Gujarat. Set in a remote rural village of Saurashtra, the film follows the story of a nine-year-old boy who begins a lifelong love affair with cinema when he bribes his way into a rundown movie palace and spends a summer watching movies from the projection booth.
Last year, Tamil drama ‘Koozhangal’ (‘Pebbles’), directed by filmmaker Vinothraj PS, was India’s official entry at the Oscars but didn’t make the shortlist.
The last Indian film that made it to the final five was the Aamir Khan-led ‘Lagaan’ in 2001.
‘Mother India’ (1958) and ‘Salaam Bombay’ (1989) are the other two Indian movies to have made it to the top five.
The 95th Academy Awards are scheduled to take place on March 12 in Los Angeles.
[With PTI inputs]
