Akshay Kumar’s film “Mission Raniganj” may not have made a big impact at the box office, but it has managed to win the hearts of the audience and receive favorable reviews. Now, the film’s makers are setting their sights on a prestigious honor in the world of cinema – the Oscars.
Oscar Submission Strategy and Categories for Mission Raniganj
The decision has been made to independently submit “Mission Raniganj” to the Oscars Academy. While this means the film won’t be eligible for the Best Foreign Film award, it will be eligible to compete in every other major category, similar to the strategy employed by the film “RRR” the previous year. The specific categories in which “Mission Raniganj” will compete at the Oscars are yet to be determined.
Sending non-English films to the Oscars can be done in two ways. The first approach is for a country to select an official entry, which is determined by a body assigned by the Academy. In India, this selection is typically made by an independent body known as the Film Federation of India (FFI). The second option is to submit the film independently, which necessitates meeting certain theatrical release conditions in the United States. In the prior year, the Gujarati film “Chhello Show” was India’s official entry, chosen by the FFI, while SS Rajamouli’s Telugu blockbuster “RRR” entered the race as an independent submission.
Oscars 2024: Indian Film Selection and “Mission Raniganj” Highlights
The 96th Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are scheduled to take place in Los Angeles on March 10, 2024. The highly anticipated nominations will be unveiled on January 23. For this year’s Oscars, the Malayalam film “2018” has been selected as India’s official entry, representing the nation’s cinematic excellence.
“Mission Raniganj,” produced by Vashu Bhagnani, Jackky Bhagnani, Deepshikha Deshmukh, and Ajay Kapoor, is directed by Tinu Suresh Desai. The film is based on a true story that unfolded in the 1980s, focusing on a daring rescue from a coal mine. Mining officer Jaswant Singh Gill showcased exceptional expertise and courage when he successfully evacuated 62 miners from a flooded coal mine in West Bengal. Despite a slow start, the film has demonstrated an increase in ticket sales, particularly on National Cinema Day. The Pooja Entertainment production managed to sell over 3 lakh tickets for the day, thanks to reduced ticket prices at Rs 99. Consequently, multiple showings of the film are now selling out, indicating promising prospects.
In summary, “Mission Raniganj” might not have been a box office blockbuster, but it has struck a chord with audiences and garnered positive reviews. The decision to independently submit the film to the Oscars signals the makers’ ambition to attain recognition on the global cinematic stage. While not eligible for the Best Foreign Film category, it can compete in various other significant Oscar categories. The film’s journey to the Oscars aligns with a broader trend of Indian cinema gaining international recognition. The 96th Academy Awards in 2024 offer an opportunity for films from around the world to showcase their artistry and storytelling. In this context, the makers of “Mission Raniganj” are taking a bold step to represent Indian cinema at this prestigious event.
