LOS ANGELES: Indian filmmaker Anurag Basu’s “Barfi!” is among a record 71 films vying for a nomination in the best foreign language film category for the 85th Academy Awards.

“Barfi!”, featuring Ranbir Kapoor as a deaf and mute boy, Priyanka Chopra as an autistic girl and Ileana D’Cruz as a compassionate Bengali girl, won hearts across India and among people overseas, with its heartwarming narrative.

The movie is competing among films from countries like Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Germany, Israel, Russia, Singapore and Vietnam.

Kenya has sent an entry for the first time, with a film titled “Nairobi Half Life”, directed by David ‘Tosh’ Gitonga.

Iran, whose entry “A Separation”, took home the golden statuette last year, has decided not to send any film for the Oscars this year as a mark of protest against the recent anti-Islam film “Innocence of Muslims”.

The country had initially decided to send Reza Mirkarimi’s “A Cube of Sugar” as their entry this year, but then reportedly decided to boycott the award ceremony.

The 85th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live Jan 10, 2013. The award giving ceremony will be held Feb 24, 2013.