Malayalam film JalliKattu has been selected as India’s official entry for the Best International Feature Film category to the 93^rd Academy Awards. It was announced by Film Federation of India (FFI) on Wednesday. After Guru (1997) and Adaminte Makan Abu (2011), now JalliKattu is the third Malayalam film to be chosen as the country’s official entry for the Oscars. The film was chosen for its portrayal of the “raw side of human beings, that we are worse than animals,” said Rahul Rawail, Chairman of FFI jury.

The selection was made by a 14-member committee of FFI. They shortlisted 26 films, including Shakuntala Devi, The Sky Is Pink, Is Love Enough, Chintu Ka Birthday, The Check Post, Malang, The Disciple, Gulabo Sitabo.

The film is based on the 2015 short story Maoist by S Hareesh. In JalliKattu, the human psyche follows a buffalo that escapes just as it is about to be slaughtered. The buffalo runs amok, and everyone in the village chase after the animal to trap it. With every mile that it covers, the buffalo unravels the animosities, the violence, and the selfish interests simmering beneath in the village, which is calm on its surface.

Jallikattu could impress the members who shortlist films for Oscars. “I think after a long time the best Indian film has shortlisted to Oscar. I feel JalliKattu has the tremendous potential to win the award” said Salim Ahamed, the Director of Adaminte Makan Abu. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and Busan International Film Festival. The 93rd Academy Awards is scheduled for April 25, 2021.