Indian cinema could be heading towards another major moment on the international stage. Nitesh Tiwari’s ambitious mythological epic Ramayana: Part One, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash, has reportedly entered the race for the 99th Academy Awards. The film’s makers have submitted it for consideration at the Oscars, raising expectations among Indian cinema fans who are hoping to see another Indian production gain international recognition.
However, there is an important distinction that needs to be understood. Ramayana has not been selected as India’s official entry for the International Feature Film category. That honour has already gone to the Marathi film Gondhal, which was selected by the Film Federation of India (FFI) in September 2026. Ramayana is pursuing a separate route to Oscar consideration, which allows eligible films to compete without being chosen as their country’s official submission.
According to an exclusive report published by NDTV on November 10, the makers of Ramayana have submitted the film for consideration at the 99th Academy Awards. The development has attracted attention because it gives the high-budget Indian production an opportunity to compete for recognition beyond its domestic theatrical release.
Ramayana’s Oscar submission: What exactly has happened?
The news is significant, but submitting a film for Oscar consideration and receiving an Oscar nomination are two very different things. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has a defined eligibility and voting process. A film must satisfy the relevant requirements, undergo consideration by Academy members and secure sufficient votes to advance in the competition.
Ramayana: Part One is entering the process through the Academy’s General Entry route, according to the NDTV report. This is separate from the International Feature Film category, which traditionally involves a country’s recognised selection committee submitting one film to represent that country.
Under the General Entry route, a film does not necessarily need to be selected as India’s official entry. Its producer or distributor can independently submit it for consideration, provided it meets the Academy’s eligibility requirements. This gives Indian productions another opportunity to compete for recognition in the different Oscar categories for which they qualify.
The Academy’s final submission deadline for General Entry categories at the 99th Oscars is November 12, 2026, at 5 p.m. Pacific Time. However, the submission of the required form alone does not guarantee that a film will become eligible or receive a nomination. It must also meet the applicable release and category-specific conditions.
Gondhal is India’s official Oscar entry, not Ramayana
While Ramayana is seeking independent consideration, Marathi-language film Gondhal has already been selected as India’s official entry in the Best International Feature Film category for the 99th Academy Awards.
The Film Federation of India announced the selection on September 18, 2026. Directed by Santosh Davakhar, the film was chosen from 33 submissions. The selection is an important achievement for Marathi cinema and provides the film with an opportunity to represent Indian storytelling on one of the world’s most recognised cinematic platforms.
Gondhal draws inspiration from Maharashtra’s traditional Gondhal ritual and explores themes involving relationships, social traditions, deception and survival. The film’s selection also highlights the growing international interest in regional Indian cinema and stories rooted in local cultures.
It is important to understand that Gondhal being India’s official selection does not automatically prevent other eligible Indian films from seeking consideration in the Academy’s General Entry categories. The two routes operate under different rules.
How can Ramayana qualify for the Oscars without being India’s official entry?
The Academy’s submission system provides an independent route for films that meet its standard theatrical eligibility requirements. This means that filmmakers do not always have to depend on their country’s official selection process to pursue an Oscar campaign.
For the 99th Academy Awards, a feature film seeking consideration through the relevant General Entry process must receive a qualifying commercial theatrical release in one of six designated US metropolitan areas. These include Los Angeles County, New York City, the San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth and Atlanta.
The film must complete a minimum theatrical run of seven consecutive days in the same qualifying cinema. It must have at least three screenings each day, with at least one screening starting between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. The screenings must follow the Academy’s prescribed eligibility rules.
For the 2026 awards season, the Academy has allowed qualifying feature films to complete this theatrical run by December 31, 2026, while the required General Entry submission form must be filed by November 12. These conditions are important because a film’s release in Indian cinemas, or its worldwide release announcement, does not by itself establish Oscar eligibility.
Therefore, Ramayana’s reported submission is an important step, but its eligibility will depend on compliance with the Academy’s rules. It is also worth remembering that consideration in a general category is not the same as entering the Best International Feature Film competition.
Another Indian film, Angh, also has an Oscar opportunity
India’s presence in the 99th Academy Awards conversation is not limited to Gondhal and Ramayana. The Naga-language film Angh, directed by Theja Rio, has also attracted international attention after winning the Platform Award at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
The Academy introduced an additional eligibility pathway in 2026 for non-English-language films that win specified top jury awards at selected international film festivals. These include the Berlin International Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and Venice International Film Festival, among others.
Winning the Platform Award at TIFF gives Angh a separate pathway to consideration in the International Feature Film category. This development is particularly significant for independent and regional-language filmmakers, as it creates another opportunity for their work to reach the Academy without relying exclusively on the traditional country-selection process.
The presence of Gondhal and Angh demonstrates how the Academy’s revised rules can create opportunities for multiple Indian productions through different eligibility routes. Ramayana, meanwhile, is pursuing its reported General Entry submission.
Why Ramayana is attracting international attention
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra, Ramayana: Part One is a large-scale cinematic adaptation of the Indian epic. The film brings together major names from the Indian film industry and an international visual-effects production team.
Ranbir Kapoor portrays Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi plays Sita and Yash appears as Ravana. The project is produced by Prime Focus Studios in association with DNEG and Monster Mind Creations. The film was released worldwide in cinemas on November 5, 2026, in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and English.
One of the major talking points surrounding the production has been its ambitious visual-effects work. DNEG, the visual-effects company associated with the project, has previously received multiple Academy Awards for its work on international films. Its experience in large-scale visual storytelling adds an important technical dimension to the production.
However, an experienced visual-effects team or a film’s production budget does not automatically translate into an Oscar nomination. Academy recognition depends on the quality of the final work, the eligibility of the film and the voting process within the relevant categories.
When will the 99th Academy Awards take place?
The 99th Academy Awards will take place on March 14, 2027, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles. The ceremony will recognise achievements in films released during the 2026 eligibility period.
According to the Academy’s published schedule, the Oscar shortlists are scheduled to be announced on December 15, 2026. The nominations announcement is scheduled for January 21, 2027. These stages will determine which eligible films and individuals advance to the final competition.
Until those announcements are made, it would be premature to describe Ramayana as an Oscar nominee or predict that it will win an award. Its reported submission is an early step in a much longer process.
Can India win an Oscar through Ramayana?
There is certainly a possibility of Ramayana receiving international recognition, but its Oscar prospects will depend on several factors, including the applicable eligibility requirements, the categories in which it is considered and the response of Academy voters.
For Indian cinema, the bigger development is that different films are now exploring multiple routes to the Academy Awards. Gondhal is carrying India’s official selection in the International Feature Film category, Angh has earned an alternative pathway through its TIFF recognition, and Ramayana’s makers have reportedly submitted the film independently for consideration.
It is also important to remember that an Oscar is awarded for cinematic achievement, not simply because a film represents a particular country. The Academy’s 2026 rules have further clarified that the International Feature Film award is credited to the film and its director rather than to the submitting country or region.
For now, Ramayana’s entry into the Oscar conversation is encouraging news for Indian cinema. But whether Ranbir Kapoor and Nitesh Tiwari’s ambitious production makes it to the shortlist, secures a nomination or ultimately wins an Academy Award will become clearer only as the 99th Oscars process moves forward.
