Earlier this week, the Academy of Movement Image Arts and Sciences unveiled its annual roster of movies eligible for Finest Image competition, itemizing 201 titles from world wide. Using that wave of anticipation, Hombale Movies confirmed on social media that it has formally submitted two of its greatest 2025 releases, Kantara: Chapter 1 and Mahavatar Narasimha, for Oscar consideration. Based on the banner, each movies have been entered into the Academy’s Common Entry checklist, which opens doorways to a large spectrum of classes together with Finest Image, performing, course, manufacturing design, cinematography and screenwriting, topic to the Academy’s overview course of.

Produced by Vijay Kiragandur, the 2 movies symbolize Hombale’s most formidable yr but, mixing scale, cultural relevance and powerful field workplace pull. Although entry into the checklist is merely step one in an extended journey, it positions each titles on the identical taking part in area as world heavyweights that dominated conversations by way of 2024 and early 2025.

Kantara Prequel Emerges as a Field Workplace Titan

Rishab Shetty returned to the universe he created with Kantara: Chapter 1, a prequel that explores deeper mythological terrain whereas increasing its emotional and visible tapestry. That includes Rukmini Vasanth and Gulshan Devaiah in pivotal roles, the movie turned one of many highest grossers of 2025, amassing over 850 crore globally. Critics praised Shetty for amplifying the world constructing, harnessing grounded folklore and delivering a efficiency that anchors the movie’s non secular core.

Worldwide reviewers additionally famous the movie’s technical prowess, particularly in its use of pure landscapes and rooted traditions to raise the cinematic expertise. From immersive motion staging to evocative sound design, Kantara: Chapter 1 emerged as a uncommon Indian movie that might marry cultural authenticity with blockbuster spectacle.

Its Oscars submission looks like a pure extension of its home triumph. Although Indian movies hardly ever break into the Finest Image race, Kantara’s robust essential and business momentum helps place it as one of many extra seen Indian entries this yr.

Mahavatar Narasimha Units a New Benchmark for Indian Animation

If Kantara represents Hombale’s grip on status mass cinema, Mahavatar Narasimha marks an equally vital leap in animation. The movie turned the very best grossing animated characteristic in Indian cinema, gathering over 325 crore worldwide. It additionally sparked conversations across the evolving animation panorama in India, which has traditionally struggled to compete with worldwide studios in method and attain.

With its mythological inspiration, scale-driven motion, and detailed art work, the movie earned reward for elevating the usual of domestically produced animation. Its place within the Oscars lengthy checklist situates it amongst world titles which have robust fan bases and franchise clout, even when the animation classes stay among the many hardest to crack owing to dominant studio presence.

A Crowded Discipline With Main Hollywood Tentpoles

The Academy’s 201 movie eligibility checklist additionally contains a string of high-profile Hollywood productions, resembling Jurassic World Rebirth, F1, Mission: Unimaginable The Remaining Reckoning, The Bare Gun, Sisu: Highway to Revenge and Lilo and Sew. The range underscores how broad the lengthy checklist tends to be annually. For perspective, final yr even the much-criticised Siva directorial Kanguva, starring Suriya, discovered itself included. As at all times, presence on this checklist shouldn’t be a assure of nomination as the sector undergoes a number of rounds of scrutiny earlier than the ultimate voting.

Becoming a member of the Indian contingent this yr are Vacationer Household, Tanvi the Nice and Sister Midnight, every vying for visibility amongst a crowded world slate.

In the meantime, India already has one robust foot ahead within the awards season. As reported earlier, Neeraj Ghaywan’s acclaimed drama Homebound has damaged into the 15-film shortlist for Finest Worldwide Characteristic Movie. With the ultimate Oscar nominations anticipated later this January, the trade is watching intently to see whether or not any of the Indian entries can convert lengthy checklist presence into precise Academy nods.

Additionally Learn: Pics: Prabhas Flaunts a Man Bun at The Raja Saab Pre-release Event