India Still Awaits Its First Oscar in Best Foreign Feature Film; Only 3 Out of 58 Entries Have Come Close

New Delhi: India's official entry at the Oscars every year is a grand affair. This year too, 'Laapataa Ladies' announcement as the official entry at the 97th Academy Awards has been celebrated as a huge affair. As Kiran Rao's film wins appreciation once again, it is interesting to know that of the many movie entries that the Film Federation of India (FFI) has sent to the Academy, very few have in fact been nominated for the Best International Feature Film award category.


Also Read: Kiran Rao's 'Laapataa Ladies' Is India's Official Entry For Oscars 2025


Indian films which came close to winning an Oscar in the Best International Feature Film category




The closest that any Indian film came to winning the prestigious award was ‘Mother India’. ‘Mother India’ was nominated in 1957 and lost by a single vote to 'Nights of Cabiria'.


In 1988, 'Salaam Bombay!' was another India's official entry and got nominated for the Best International Film category but did not win.


Again in 2001, Aamir Khan's 'Lagaan' was nominated in the Best International Film Category but did not win the prestigious award.


While India has received an Academy award in other categories, such as Bhanu Athaiya for costume design (Gandhi) and Satyajit Ray: Honorary Academy Award, AR Rahman for Best Original Score and 'RRR' and the 'The Elephant Whisperers' in other categories, a major win by an Indian film in the Best International Film category is still-awaited.


Meanwhile, check out the complete list of India’s official entries at the Oscars over the years.









Year (Ceremony)




Film Title




Language








2025 (97th)




Laapataa Ladies




Hindi








2024 (96th)




Everyone is a Hero




Malayalam








2023 (95th)




Chhello Show




Gujarati








2022 (94th)




Koozhangal




Tamil








2021 (93rd)




Jallikattu




Malayalam








2020 (92nd)




Gully Boy




Hindi








2019 (91st)




Village Rockstars




Assamese








2018 (90th)




Newton




Hindi








2017 (89th)




Visaranai




Tamil








2016 (88th)




Court




Marathi








2015 (87th)




Liar's Dice




Hindi








2014 (86th)




The Good Road




Gujarati








2013 (85th)




Barfi!




Hindi








2012 (84th)




Abu, Son of Adam




Malayalam








2011 (83rd)




Peepli Live




Hindi








2010 (82nd)




Harishchandra's Factory




Marathi








2009 (81st)




Taare Zameen Par




Hindi








2008 (80th)




Eklavya: The Royal Guard




Hindi








2007 (79th)




Rang De Basanti




Hindi








2006 (78th)




Paheli




Hindi








2005 (77th)




Shwaas




Marathi








2004 (76th)




The Breath




Marathi








2003 (75th)




Devdas




Hindi








2002 (74th)




Lagaan




Hindi/English








2001 (73rd)




Hey Ram




Tamil/Hindi








2000 (72nd)




Earth




Hindi








1999 (71st)




Jeans




Tamil








1998 (70th)




Guru




Malayalam








1997 (69th)




Indian




Tamil








1996 (68th)




Kuruthipunal




Tamil








1995 (67th)




Muhafiz




Hindi








1994 (66th)




Rudaali




Hindi








1993 (65th)




Thevar Magan




Tamil








1992 (64th)




Henna




Hindi/Urdu








1991 (63rd)




Anjali




Tamil








1990 (62nd)




Parinda




Hindi








1989 (61st)




Salaam Bombay!




Hindi








1988 (60th)




Nayagan




Tamil








1987 (59th)




Swathi Muthyam




Telugu








1986 (58th)




Saagar




Hindi








1985 (57th)




Saaransh




Hindi








1980 (53rd)




Payal Ki Jhankaar




Hindi








1978 (51st)




The Chess Players




Urdu/Hindi








1977 (50th)




Manthan




Hindi








1974 (47th)




Garam Hawa




Urdu








1973 (46th)




Saudagar




Hindi








1972 (45th)




Uphaar




Hindi








1971 (44th)




Reshma Aur Shera




Hindi








1969 (42nd)




Deiva Magan




Tamil








1968 (41st)




Elder Sister




Hindi








1967 (40th)




The Last Letter




Hindi








1966 (39th)




Amrapali




Hindi








1965 (38th)




The Guide




Hindi








1963 (36th)




Metropolis




Bengali








1962 (35th)




Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam




Hindi/Urdu








1959 (32nd)




The World of Apu




Bengali








1958 (31st)




Madhumati




Hindi








1957 (30th)




Mother India




Hindi


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