Indian cinephiles will have a tough time sleeping tonight as three of their hand picked films were snubbed by the Oscars 2025. But how fair are these decisions? That’s something we need to assess with a proper grain of salt.
The first blow came with All We Imagine As Light, one of the best-performing films on a global stage. With critics backing the film and audiences loving it, it seemed like a clear choice for a nomination. But, surprisingly, it didn’t make the cut.
Next comes Santosh, which was England’s official submission. Santosh was on par with All We Imagine As Light in terms of global recognition and widespread appreciation from fans across the board. Yet, it too failed to secure a spot.
The third snub is Monkey Man, a film that will be remembered as a modern epic in the action genre. Directed by and starring Dev Patel, the film excelled in every department—from cinematography to acting, action sequences, and its stunning background score. Despite its brilliance, it was overlooked.
India made some questionable choices in Oscar submissions this year, as the official board failed to back any of these films. It was the fans who were rooting for them instead.
Are Indian films not Oscar-worthy? That’s an absurd claim. Based on quality, India is one of the most significant contributors to global cinema. However, there needs to be a bit more intelligence in selecting and backing films for such prestigious platforms. This isn’t the first time this has happened. In 2019, a similar incident occurred when Tumbbad was snubbed in favor of Gully Boy, and we all know how Zoya Akhtar’s film fared.
For now, we extend our best wishes to everyone associated with All We Imagine As Light, Santosh, and Monkey Man. These films left no stone unturned in delivering cinematic brilliance.
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