Rima Das is on cloud nine. The 36-year-old filmmaker's Village Rockstars was, on Saturday, declared India's official entry for the Foreign Language Film category of Oscars 2019.
The Assamese film is a coming-of-age-story which follows Dhunu, a girl who grows up in poverty and learns to fend for herself. However, that does not prevent her from following her dream of forming a rock band and owning a guitar someday. The film has also been shot, edited and produced by Rima Das.
On her film being picked as India's official Oscar entry, she said: “I have been waiting for this day and praying. Luckily, I got this news in my village at Chhaygaon, Assam [I arrived last night]. I am glad that I am with my family and the cast of the film. Otherwise, a news like this, if you are alone in some far off land, could put you off the balance! Though, I have been jumping around uncontrollably and creating all sorts of nuisance.”
The film which premiered at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival has had a stellar run in the festival circuit. It was screened at 70 film festivals and won 44 awards, including four national awards. “I still can't believe that our film is India’s Oscar entry. I am pinching myself, screaming and shouting with joy,” she said.
Village Rockstars was judged the Best Feature Film at the 65th National Film Awards earlier this year. It also bagged other awards such as those for best child artist, best location sound recordist, and best editing.
She added: "I am so grateful to the selection committee for believing in our film.” Village Rockstars will release in India on September 28.
Last year, Rajkummar Rao-starrer Newton represented India at the Oscars. It, however, failed to make it to the final list of films in the voting round. So far, only three Indian films have made it till the last round in the foreign language category—Mehboob Khan’s Mother India (1957), Mira Nair’s Salaam Bombay! (1988) and Ashutosh Gowariker’s Lagaan (2001).
The 91st Academy Awards is scheduled to be held on February 24, 2019.
