Malayalam film '2018- Everyone Is A Hero' India's official entry for Oscars 2024

2018: Everyone Is A Hero narrates the stories of humanity triumphing over adversity set in the backdrop of the 2018 floods that devastated parts of Kerala.

In the film, Tovino Thomas plays the role of a young man who leaves the Indian Army with a fake medical certificate and redeems himself during the floods. The film also stars Asif Ali, Lal, Narain, Kunchacko Boban and Aparna Balamurali in prominent roles.

2018 emerged as a massive hit at the box office and the performances were praised by critics and audiences alike.

Now, 2018 will compete for the Best International Feature Film Oscar, a category that was previously titled Best Foreign Film. No Indian entry has been nominated for Best International Feature Film at the Oscars since Lagaan in 2002.

Earlier reports said that the committee has received over 22 entries from across the country.

“Some of the films have been sent to the Film Federation of India for Oscar selection including names such as Anant Mahadevan’s The Storyteller (Hindi), Music School (Hindi), Mrs Chatterjee vs. Norway (Hindi), 12th Fail (Hindi), Viduthalai Part 1 (Tamil), Ghoomer (Hindi), and Dasara (Telugu). The source added. “The list might add movies such as Vaalvi (Marathi), Gadar 2 (Hindi), Ab Toh Sab Bhagwan Bharose (Hindi), and Baap Layak (Marathi),” a source was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times.

According to the Times of India, the contenders for the Oscars 2024 include, Balagam, The Kerala Story, Zwigato, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, Baap Layak, Ab Toh Sab Bhagwan Bharose, Gadar 2, Valvi, Dasara, Ghoomer, Viduthalai Part 1, 12th Fail, Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway, Music School, and The Story Teller.

Prior to this, the 95th Oscar Awards that took place on March 13 made the moment unforgettable for India as it won big at the prestigious awards in different given categories. In Oscars 2023, Pan Nalin’s Gujarati film Last Film Show (Chello Show) was India’s official entry for the category of Best International Feature Film. Additionally, SS Rajamouli’s RRR song Naatu Naatu won in the Best Original Song while Kartiki Gonsalves and Guneet Monga’s directed The Elephant Whisperers won in the category of Documentary Short.

Besides the awards, the 95th Academy Awards were also memorable as Hindi film actor Deepika Padukone was one of the presenters at the event joining many others such as Emily Blunt, Samuel L Jackson, Dwayne Johnson, Michael Jordan, and Melissa McCarthy among many.