Court Beats Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Baahubali In The Oscar Race

Chaitanya Tamhane’s highly acclaimed Marathi film ‘Court’ makes its way as India’s official entry to the Best Foreign Language category of the 2016 Academy Awards. Based on courtroom drama, the film examines the Indian legal system through the trial of an aging folk singer in a lower court in Mumbai.

In 2015, the film won the Best Feature Film award at the 62nd National Film Awards. The film went on to win 18 other awards at film festivals, including honours at the Mumbai, Vienna, Antalya, and Singapore film festivals. With the feeling of proud moment for the entire team of the film, ‘Court’ was shortlisted among 30 films by Film Federation of India’s jury, headed by filmmaker Amol Palekar.

Marathi filmmaker Ravi Jadhav, who was part of the jury, took to his Facebook account to make announcement for the same. He posted, “Marathi Film ‘Court’ is the official entry from India for Oscars Award. Proud to be one of the jury member to have backed the film!!!”

The film ‘Court’ beat other top strong contenders including films like ‘Baahubali’, ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’, ‘Masaan’, ‘Haider’, ‘Mary Kom’ and others. Reportedly, ‘Court’ is the third Marathi film to enter Oscars after Sandeep Sawant’s ‘Shwaas‘ (2004), and Paresh Mokashi’s ‘Harishchandrachi Factory‘ (2009). ‘Court‘ has received largely positive reviews in the international film festival circuit. ‘Court’ premiered in India at the 16th Mumbai Film Festival in October 2014, winning Best Film and Best Director as well as a special mention from the jury for its cast.