‘Ramayana’ joins Oscars 2027 race

Nitesh Tiwari's much-awaited movie “Ramayana Part 1” arrived in theatres on 5 November, and the film has taken over the box office by storm. The film stars Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, Sai Pallavi and Ravie Dubey in lead roles. 

Backed by Namit Malhotra, the film is all set to cross Rs800 crore mark at the worldwide box office. Amid the theatrical success, the makers have reportedly submitted “Ramayana Part 1” for the Oscars 2027 race.

According to NDTV report, the makers have submitted “Ramayana: Part 1” for consideration at the 99th Academy Awards. The development comes at a time when Marathi film Gondhal has been selected as India's official entry in the International Feature Film category.

However, India’s official Oscar entry does not mean that other Indian films cannot compete at the Academy Awards. Here's how Ramayana could make its way into the Oscar race.

As per the report, films from any country can submit themselves for consideration for awards outside of the International Feature Film category, so long as they meet the eligibility requirements. This means that “Ramayana: Part 1” can independently enter the general Oscar race, although India has chosen Gondhal as its official entry for the International Feature Film category. 

For films competing in other categories, the Academy has certain theatrical release requirements. These include a minimum seven-day consecutive screening run in an eligible US city. The film must also meet other conditions laid down by the Academy.

Once these requirements are fulfilled, filmmakers or distributors can submit the necessary documents for the film to be considered.

The International Feature Film category, on the other hand, follows a different process, under which countries generally select one film as their official entry.

The Academy has also introduced changes to its rules, giving certain international films another opportunity to qualify for consideration. 

Under the revised rules, films that win specific awards at designated international film festivals can become eligible for the International Feature Film category without being selected as their country's official entry.

Naga-language film Angh is one such example. The film became eligible for consideration after winning the Platform Award at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival.