MUMBAI: UTV’s Rang De Basanti directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra has been chosen as India’s entry to the Oscar awards this year. This is the first time that a film from the UTV stable will head to the Oscars.

Speaking to Businessofcinema.com, UTV chairman Ronnie Screwvala said, “Both UTV and Rakeysh are extremely excited about this new development. This film is very close to our heart and films like these come once in a decade. We are very confident about its chances to reach the top five nominations at the Oscars.”

Rang De Basanti was in the race with some big films of the year like Vishal Bharadwaj’s Omkara, Rakesh Roshan’s Krrish, Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s Lage Raho Munnabhai, Karan Johar’s Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, Madhur Bhandarkar’s Corporate and Naseeruddin Shah’s Yun Hota To Kya Hota.

Talking about these films, Screwvala said, “This has been a great year for the Indian film industry wherein some exceptional and unusual films were made. I think the entire film industry should take a bow this year. We are looking forward to unfurl the Indian flag at the Oscars.”

Screwvala also informs that the company will be undertaking huge amount of promotions in the coming months in order to strengthen Rang De Basanti’s chances at the Oscars. “We will be promoting the film heavily in Los Angeles and New York. However, it is too premature to talk about it. We have some strong connections and relationships in the US with the likes of Disney and Fox and we won’t leave any stones unturned to promote the film,” he added.

Until now only three Indian films namely Mother India, Salaam Bombay and Lagaan have made it to the short list. Incidentally, Rang De Basanti will be actor Aamir Khan’s second film to enter the Oscars after Lagaan in 2001.

UTV senior vice president marketing and communications Siddharth Roy Kapur adds, "We are planning to have a mainline release of Rang De Basanti in the US before the Oscars. We want the masses too to enjoy the film."

Mehra says, "I am very happy today. The film was made with the youth in mind and it has deserved the right place. Let’s hope for the best at the Oscars. The film has been selected for the best foreign film category and will be competing with a lot of other films too."

Besides Aamir, Rang De Basanti also stars Soha Ali Khan, R Madhavan, Siddharth, Sharman Joshi, Kunal Kapoor and Alice Patten.