‘Kantara: Chapter 1’ Roars into the Oscars Best Picture Race: A New Chapter for Indian Cinema

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It's one of those moments where cinema feels truly global in scale, and India, once again, is right in the spotlight. Kantara: A Legend - Chapter 1, the much-talked-about mythic epic from director-actor Rishab Shetty, has officially entered the Best Picture contending race for the 98th Academy Awards. That means the film has met all the stringent eligibility criteria set by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and now sits among 201 feature films worldwide that are in the running for the most coveted prize in film.

Why This Matters (And Why We're Excited)

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At a glance, being eligible in the Best Picture category doesn't guarantee a nomination; it's the first, essential stamp of approval in what's a very competitive year. But for an Indian film to make this list without being its country's official submission is still a huge deal. It is at the same time an acknowledgement of the journey that has been undertaken by Indian cinema over the last few years, and a testament to the fact that tales told from within their culture can transcend platforms.

This isn't just a box-ticking exercise either. The Academy's eligibility checklist goes beyond simply submitting a film. To qualify for Best Picture consideration, a film must:

• Complete a qualifying theatrical run in the U.S. within a set time frame.
• Submit a confidential Academy Representation and Inclusion Standards Entry form.
• Meet at least two of four inclusion standards outlined by the Academy.

Not many films manage to balance all these demands, especially films that come from outside Hollywood or the traditional awards-circuit system, so Kantara's presence on that list is significant.

From Local Legend to Global Stage

For those who might have possibly, or rather actually, missed the huge Kantara wave that rolled out in the previous year, this film is much more than another blockbuster that hits screens worldwide. Released in October 2025, Kantara: Chapter 1 was instantly embraced by audiences across India and beyond, becoming one of the top-grossing Indian films of the year while breaking records in multiple markets.

It is a prequel to the 2022 smash hit "Kantara: A Legend," but also an entirely self-contained story of mythic resonance, combining elements of folklore and ritual with high emotional tension. Actor Rishab Shetty reprised his role in "Kantara" as "Berme," the protector or guardian of his forest and his people, an act that is firmly rooted in regional mythology but also full of broad and primal themes related to love, conflict, nature, and legacy.

The Bigger Oscar Picture

It's not just Kantara making waves. Another Indian feature, Tanvi The Great, a heartfelt drama directed by Anupam Kher, has also joined the Best Picture eligible list alongside Kantara, underscoring a broader momentum for Indian films at this year's Academy Awards.

This year's Oscars nominations will be unveiled on January 22, 2026, and while Kantara isn't the official Indian entry (that honour goes to Homebound in the International Feature Film category), its eligibility hints at a dynamic new era where Indian films find space in the heart of global awards conversations too.

What's Next?

From here, Kantara will wait alongside hundreds of other films for the Academy's final nomination announcements. Should it make it into the Best Picture shortlist, it would be a historic moment, not just for Kannada cinema, but for South and regional Indian films on the world stage.

As the buzz builds, this feels like more than an awards story. It's a marker of confidence: that cinema so deeply rooted in local worlds can still resonate across cultures and continents.