Nitesh Tiwari’s ambitious cinematic adaptation of the Indian epic, Ramayana: Part 1, is reportedly eyeing international recognition at the 99th Academy Awards. Starring Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and…
Published By : Shraddha Srivastava, Mumbai
Last Updated: November 11, 2026, 17:29 IST
Nitesh Tiwari’s ambitious cinematic adaptation of the Indian epic, Ramayana: Part 1, is reportedly eyeing international recognition at the 99th Academy Awards. Starring Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash, the film has generated significant attention following reports that its makers have submitted it for Oscars consideration.
The development has raised an important question: Can Ramayana compete at the Oscars even though Marathi film Gondhal has already been selected as India's official entry for the Best International Feature Film category?
The answer lies in the Academy's eligibility framework, which allows films from different countries to independently compete in several general award categories.
India's official selection for the International Feature Film category does not prevent other Indian productions from entering the broader Academy Awards competition.
Films from any country can independently seek consideration in general categories, including Best Picture, provided they satisfy the Academy's theatrical release and other eligibility requirements.
According to the Academy's rules, a feature film must have a running time exceeding 40 minutes and complete a qualifying theatrical release in at least one of six designated metropolitan areas in the United States.
These locations include Los Angeles County, New York City, the San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth and Atlanta.
The film must screen in the same commercial cinema for seven consecutive days, with at least three public screenings daily. At least one screening must begin between 6 PM and 10 PM.
Ramayana's reported wide theatrical distribution across North America could help it meet the geographical requirement, subject to verification of the complete screening schedule and other applicable conditions.
Qualifying for general Oscar consideration does not automatically guarantee eligibility for Best Picture.
The Academy has introduced additional theatrical distribution requirements for films seeking consideration in this category.
A qualifying film must complete an expanded theatrical run of seven days, consecutive or non-consecutive, in at least 10 of the top 50 US markets within the prescribed timeframe.
It must also satisfy at least two of the four Representation and Inclusion Standards, commonly known as RAISE.
These requirements make the Best Picture competition more demanding than simply securing a qualifying theatrical release.
Marathi-language film Gondhal has been selected as India's official submission for the Best International Feature Film category.
Ramayana, meanwhile, is reportedly pursuing consideration through the Academy's general entry route.
The distinction is important because the International Feature Film category traditionally follows a country-based selection process, while other categories allow eligible international productions to submit independently.
Consequently, the selection of Gondhal does not prevent Ramayana from seeking recognition in other Oscar categories.
Another notable example is the Naga-language film Angh, which became eligible for International Feature Film consideration after winning the Platform Prize at the 2026…
