Produced by Vijay Kiragandur, the two films represent Hombale’s most ambitious year yet, blending scale, cultural relevance and strong box office pull. Though entry into the list is merely the first step in a long journey, it positions both titles on the same playing field as global heavyweights that dominated conversations through 2024 and early 2025.
Kantara Prequel Emerges as a Box Office Titan
Rishab Shetty returned to the universe he created with Kantara: Chapter 1, a prequel that explores deeper mythological terrain while expanding its emotional and visual tapestry. Featuring Rukmini Vasanth and Gulshan Devaiah in pivotal roles, the film became one of the highest grossers of 2025, amassing over 850 crore globally. Critics praised Shetty for amplifying the world building, harnessing grounded folklore and delivering a performance that anchors the film’s spiritual core.
International reviewers also noted the film’s technical prowess, especially in its use of natural landscapes and rooted traditions to elevate the cinematic experience. From immersive action staging to evocative sound design, Kantara: Chapter 1 emerged as a rare Indian film that could marry cultural authenticity with blockbuster spectacle.
Its Oscars submission feels like a natural extension of its domestic triumph. Though Indian films rarely break into the Best Picture race, Kantara’s strong critical and commercial momentum helps position it as one of the more visible Indian entries this year.
Mahavatar Narasimha Sets a New Benchmark for Indian Animation
If Kantara represents Hombale’s grip on prestige mass cinema, Mahavatar Narasimha marks an equally significant leap in animation. The film became the highest grossing animated feature in Indian cinema, collecting over 325 crore worldwide. It also sparked conversations around the evolving animation landscape in India, which has historically struggled to compete with international studios in technique and reach.
With its mythological inspiration, scale-driven action, and detailed artwork, the film earned praise for elevating the standard of locally produced animation. Its place in the Oscars long list situates it among global titles that have strong fan bases and franchise clout, even if the animation categories remain among the toughest to crack owing to dominant studio presence.
A Crowded Field With Major Hollywood Tentpoles
The Academy’s 201 film eligibility list also features a string of high-profile Hollywood productions, such as Jurassic World Rebirth, F1, Mission: Impossible The Final Reckoning, The Naked Gun, Sisu: Road to Revenge and Lilo and Stitch. The variety underscores how broad the long list tends to be each year. For perspective, last year even the much-criticised Siva directorial Kanguva, starring Suriya, found itself included. As always, presence on this list is not a guarantee of nomination as the field undergoes multiple rounds of scrutiny before the final voting.
Joining the Indian contingent this year are Tourist Family, Tanvi the Great and Sister Midnight, each vying for visibility among a crowded global slate.
Meanwhile, India already has one strong foot forward in the awards season. As reported earlier, Neeraj Ghaywan’s acclaimed drama Homebound has broken into the 15-film shortlist for Best International Feature Film. With the final Oscar nominations expected later this January, the industry is watching closely to see whether any of the Indian entries can convert long list presence into actual Academy nods.
Also Read: Pics: Prabhas Flaunts a Man Bun at The Raja Saab Pre-release Event
