It’s showtime for leading Indian studio’s Oscar bet

Reliance Entertainment and Amblin Partners’ World War I film- 1917, opened in cinemas in India on Friday. The Sam Mendes-directed epic war drama has been on an award-winning spree, having bagged 10 nominations at the 92nd Academy Awards and nine nominations at the BAFTA Awards this year.
The movie has already won the Best Picture-Drama and Sam Mendes was adjudged the Best Director at the 77th Golden Globes.Moreover, it also triumphed at the 25th Annual Critics' Choice Awards in three categories – Sam Mendes for Best Director, Roger Deakins for Best Cinematography and Lee Smith for Best Editing.
1917 opened number 1 at the US box-office with nearly doubling some industry estimates. This includes the UK, where it stormed to number 1, registering the largest collections ever for a January opening for an original film. The film was number 1 in the world, opening with big numbers at various box offices.
Starring George MacKay as Lance Corporal Schofield and Dean-Charles Chapman as Lance Corporal Blake, Mendes’ directorial has captured the hearts and minds of audiences and critics alike, with Roger Deakins’ cinematography attracting rave reviews not only overseas but also in India.
The film has garnered appreciation at a special screening that was attended by acclaimed Indian filmmakers like Sriram Raghavan, Nitesh Tiwari, Vijay Krishna Acharya, Vikramaditya Motwane and Shree Narayan Singh, and all of them raved about it.

Sriram Raghavan enthused, “Totally loved 1917. Ideally, after watching this film, you should be on your own for a while. Please watch it, it's a fantastic movie, I'm going to watch it again on Friday. I loved it!”
Nitesh Tiwari observed, “It's an incredible piece of film making. I'm quite speechless to be very honest. I walked out of the theatre completely stunned. As a filmmaker, it makes you feel so small, somebody out there has done something remarkable. The filmmaking, cinematography, production design is fantastic. If you are a true cinema lover, if you want to see a great piece of cinema then please go watch 1917. I strongly recommend this movie.”
Vijay Krishna Acharya stated, “I think all Great War films are actually anti-war films. That's what 1917 aims. It’s well put together and one of the most sensitive films I've seen this year. The subject is fabulously handled. The movie tugs at your emotions. It's fine filmmaking at its best. Each department is fantastic at their work.”
Vikramaditya Motwane said, “1917 is a technical marvel. The direction, production design and cinematography are some of the best you’ll ever see, anywhere.”
Shree Narayan Singh summed it up saying, “An all-out cinematic spectacle, 1917 joins the rank of great war films. Riveting, uncompromising and a sensational technical achievement, it’s a bracing, intellectual and one-shot wonder.”
DreamWorks Pictures and Reliance Entertainment present, in association with New Republic Pictures, a Neal Street production, produced in association with Mogambo is a Sam Mendes film. 1917 stars George MacKay, Dean-Charles Chapman, Colin Firth and Benedict Cumberbatch that released on January 17 in India.
Disclaimer: This article has been produced on behalf of Reliance Entertainment by Times Internet's Spotlight team.