Overview

• The Film Federation of India selected Neeraj Ghaywan’s drama as the country’s official entry for Best International Feature at the 98th Academy Awards, with jury head N Chandra saying it “had the ethos of India” and “has a chance to win.”
• At a Mumbai press conference, Ghaywan said Martin Scorsese gave extensive notes that led to changes in the script and edits, describing the filmmaker’s mentorship as selfless.
• The film opens in Indian theatres on September 26, and the makers confirmed Netflix as the post-theatrical streaming partner, with the OTT date yet to be announced.
• After a world premiere in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard and a standing ovation, the film finished second runner-up for TIFF’s International People’s Choice Award and notched wins at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne.
• Ghaywan emphasized on-set inclusivity, citing a mandate for over 50% women crew and a preference for qualified Dalit, Muslim and LGBTQIA+ hires, as the cast and team expressed pride in the selection.