As the countdown to the 98th Academy Awards begins, Indian cinema has taken another step toward global recognition. Two Indian films — Rishab Shetty’s Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1 and Anupam Kher’s Tanvi The Great — have officially entered the race for the Best Picture category at the Oscars 2026.
Both films are among the 201 feature films deemed eligible for Best Picture consideration by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), according to Variety. The Academy stated that these films met all additional eligibility criteria beyond general entry requirements.
These criteria include qualifying theatrical runs and the submission of the confidential Academy Representation and Inclusion Standards Entry (RAISE) form. Eligible films were also required to meet at least two of the Academy’s four inclusion standards and complete a qualifying theatrical release in 10 of the top 50 US markets within 45 days of their initial 2025 release.
By fulfilling these conditions, Kantara: Chapter 1 and Tanvi The Great have positioned themselves as potential contenders on the global stage.
Earlier, in November 2025, the Academy announced 317 films eligible across categories such as Best Documentary, Animated Feature, and International Feature Film. The official Oscar nominations will be unveiled on January 22.
Produced by Hombale Films, Kantara: Chapter 1 explores the origins of Daiva worship in Tulunadu, tracing its roots to the fourth-century Kadamba dynasty. Rishab Shetty plays Berme, the guardian of the Kantara forest and its tribal communities.
Directed by Anupam Kher, Tanvi The Great stars Shubhangi as Tanvi Raina, a young girl on the autism spectrum who is inspired by her late father’s service in the Indian Army and dreams of following his path. The film also features Anupam Kher, Jackie Shroff, Boman Irani, and Karan Tacker in pivotal roles.