JOIN USHindi film “Liar’s Dice” has been selected as India’s official entry in the best foreign film category for the 2015 Oscars.
Directed by Malayalam actor, Geetu Mohandas, the road drama, starring Geetanjali Thapa and Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the lead, was chosen by a 12-member jury headed by eminent filmmaker T Hariharan on Tuesday.
“The jury unanimously found it the best film for the entry from all the angles, including cinematography and acting. The overall impact of the film was very good,” FFI secretary-general Supran Sen told Deccan Herald.
“Liar’s dice”, Geetu’s directorial debut, was selected from a total of 30 films, including Kangana Ranaut's “Queen”, Rajkummar Rao’s National Award-winning “Shahid”, Shriya Dinakar’s “Billion Dollar Baby” and Priyanka Chopra’s “Mary Kom”, he added.
The film, which won two National Awards, including best actor for Thapa, had its world premiere at the 2013 Mumbai Film Festival in October 2013. It was later selected for screening at the Sundance Film Festival and International Film Festival Rotterdam. The film won a special jury award at Sofia International Film Festival.
“Liar's Dice” follows a young tribal woman living in a village near the Indo-Tibetan border who embarks on a journey with her daughter to Delhi in search of her missing husband.
On the way, she meets an Army deserter, played by Siddiqui, who realising the perils of the journey ahead decides to accompany them. The 87th Academy Awards will be held on February 22.
India has been submitting films to the category since 1957, but none of them have ever won the award.
The last Indian film that made it to the final five nominees at the Oscars was Ashutosh Gowariker's “Lagaan”. “Mother India” and “Salaam Bombay” were the only other Indian movies which could make it to the top five.