In January 2026, Five Indian films, Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1, Tanvi The Great, Mahavatar Narsimha, Tourist Family and Sister Midnight were included in the list of 201 feature films eligible for the Best Picture category at the 98th Academy Awards (Oscars 2026), released by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).
Exam Hints:
- What? Five Indian Films eligible for Best Picture at Oscars 2026
- By Whom? Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)
- 5 Films: Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1, Tanvi The Great, Mahavatar Narsimha, Tourist Family and Sister Midnight
- Total Eligible Films: 201 for Best Picture, 317 across all categories
- Nominations Announcement: January 22, 2026
- Ceremony: 15th March 2026 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California, United States of America (USA)
Indian Films at Oscars 2026
Eligibility Criteria: To qualify for Best Picture, films needed a 10-theater United States of America (USA) run within 45 days of release in 2025, submit a Representation and Inclusion Standards Entry (RAISE) form, and meet at least two of four inclusion standards.
Kantara A Legend – Chapter 1: Written and directed by Rishab Shetty, produced by Vijay Kiragandur and Chaluve Gowda under Hombale Films, with Rishab Shetty also starring in the lead role as Berme.
Mahavatar Narasimha: It is an animated film directed by Ashwin Kumar, produced by Shilpaa Dhawan, Kushal Desai, and Chaitanya Desai of Kleem Productions in association with Hombale Films, with Harjeet Walia voicing the lead character, Lord Narasimha.
Tanvi The Great: Directed by veteran actor Anupam Kher and produced by Anupam Kher under Anupam Kher Studio in association with the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), starring Shubhangi Dutt as the titular protagonist, Tanvi Raina.
Tourist Family: It marks the directorial debut of Abishan Jeevinth and is produced by Nazerath Pasilian, Magesh Raj Pasilian, and Yuvaraj Ganesan under Million Dollar Studios and MRP Entertainment, starring M. Sasikumar in the lead role alongside Simran.
Sister Midnight: A dark comedy written and directed by Karan Kandhari, produced by Alastair Clark and Anna Griffin under Wellington Films and Griffin Pictures, with Radhika Apte starring as the lead character, Uma.
Oscars 2026 Timeline:
Nominations: Nominations voting will take place from 12th to 16th January 2026, with the final five nominees in each category announced on 22nd January 2026.
Ceremony: The 98th Academy Awards will be held on 15th March 2026 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California, United States of America (USA).
About Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS):
President – Lynette Howell Taylor
Headquarters – Beverly Hills (California), United States of America (USA)
Established – 1927
