MUMBAI: While Aamir Khan’s directorial debut Taare Zameen Par has been selected as the official Indian entry for the Oscars, makers of Marathi film Tingya are looking at sending the film as an independent entry.

Apart from Taare Zameen Par, two Marathi movies Tingya and Valu, one Telegu film Gamayam and Hindi films like Jodhaa Akbar, A Wednesday, Mumbai Meri Jaan, Rock On and Black & White were amongst the films that were contending to be selected as the official Indian entry for the Oscars.

Tingya will be entered at the Oscars in the Foreign Language Film category as an independent entry. TZP has also been entered for the Foreign Language Film category. Incidentally, the year before last, while UTV Motion Pictures’ Rang De Basanti was the official entry to the Oscars, Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s Lage Raho Munnabhai was sent as an independent entry, which was entered in the General category.

Tingya has been directed by debutant director Mangesh Hadawale and has been produced by Ravi Rai. The movie revolves around a six year old boy called Tingya and his love for his bull. It is based on the issue of farmer suicides in Maharashtra.

So far, Tingya has done the rounds of many film festivals and has won 37 awards including five at the international festivals. The movie has been presented by One More Thought Entertainment.

Tingya won two awards at the Pune Film Festival. It was awarded the Best International Marathi Film award by the jury. The character of Tingya has been essayed by child artist Sharad Goekar, who bagged the Critics’ Award for Best Actor at the Pune Film Festival.