'Pulimurugan' songs, score in Oscar long list

 A year after emerging as the highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time, Mohanlal-starrer Pulimurugan  is finding international recognition for its music.

The Vysakh-directed action blockbuster about a hunter of tigers was noted for its elaborate stunt set-pieces, but two of  its songs and its musical score  are  what have taken it to the global stage.

They are among the 70 tracks listed as  contending for nominations in the Original Song category at the 90th Academy Awards, the only entries from India.

The film's score, composed by Gopi Sundar, is also among the 141 scores listed as eligible  in the  Original Score category.

Nominations for the 90th Academy Awards (five each in the two categories) will be announced on January 23, 2018.

Two songs from the film  -  Kaadaniyum kaalchilambe and Maanathe maarikurumbe  - figure in the long list released by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The list also features works by Taylor Swift (I don't wanna live forever from the film Fifty Shades Darker), Mariah Carey (The Star from The Star), Chris Cornell (The Promise from The Promise) and Nick Jonas (Home from Ferdinand).

Gopi Sundar said he  was "shocked" by the news till an official mail confirmed the eligibility of his work.

Veterans John Williams (Star Wars: The Last Jedi and The Post) and Hans Zimmer (Dunkirk, Blade Runner 2049 and The Boss Baby) are among those in contention for the Original Score award.

"These are musicians I've always looked at with awe. I know this is not a nomination but making the list of original scores and getting two of my songs picked from an international spread itself is a huge recognition. It's a special honour and I'm just happy," Gopi Sundar told DH on Tuesday.

The composer had won the National Film Award for music direction in 2014 for his work in the film 1983.

Pulimurugan, released in October 2016, smashed many box-office records before becoming the only Malayalam film to enter the Rs-100 crore club. The 90th Oscars will be held on March 4, 2018.