Kannada cinema shines as Kantara heads India’s Oscar submissions

India has made a strong showing on the 98th Academy Awards’ General Entry List this year, with five films officially submitted for Oscar consideration across major categories. The Academy recently announced that 201 films are eligible for consideration in the Best Picture category. Among them are Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1, Mahavatar Narasimha, Tanvi the Great, Sister Midnight (an Indian-led international production),and Tourist Family.Finding a voice on the world stage is a moment of immense pride for us: Vijay KiragandurNotably, two of the five entries are from Hombale Films; a significant moment for Kannada cinema on the global stage. On Friday, the banner confirmed via social media that it has submitted Kantara: Chapter 1 and Mahavatar Narasimha to the list. Reacting to the news, Hombale Films founder and producer Vijay Kiragandur told Bangalore Times, “A story rooted in faith and soil finding its voice on the world stage is a moment of immense pride for us.” The film is eligible for consideration across general categories including Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, Best Producer, Best Writing, Production Design and Cinematography, with Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1 contending across all major heads. Speaking about Mahavatar Narasimha, the banner stated, “Indian mythological narratives belong on the global stage, and this moment inspires us to dream bigger and bolder.”While a submission does not guarantee a nomination, the development is being widely viewed as a milestone for Kannada cinema, reinforcing its expanding footprint in the global awards conversation.