Explained: How Santosh, A Hindi Film, Became UK's Official Oscars 2025 Entry

Oscars 2025: The Shahna Goswami starrer Santosh has been sent to the 97th Academy Award race by the United Kindom. The Hindi film is directed by British-Indian director Sandhya Suri. It was premiered at the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival 2024. Following its Oscar submission, questions are being raised on whether an international country can send an Indian movie as its official entry.  

How does Santosh, a Hindi film, become eligible for British selection as an Oscar entry? 

While the movie is in Hindi and features an Indian cast, the production of Santosh was British. The acclaimed crime thriller is backed by British producers Mike Goodridge, James Bowsher, Balthazar de Ganay, and Alan McAlex. The executive producers of the film are also of British origin. The film is produced by Good Chaos, with co-producers Razor Film and Haut et Court, and is backed by BFI and BBC Film. 

The Academy rules state that for a film to be eligible in the Best International Feature category it has to be in a non-English language. Thus, the UK often sends non-English language as its official entry to the awards. This year the country won its maiden Academy award in the category for The Zone Of Interest, primarily in German and Polish language. Moreover, the film has also completed a theatrical run in the UK, which is another mandate of the Academy for a movie to be eligible in the category. 

What is Santosh movie about? 

The film, directed by Sandhya Suri, narrates the life of a newly widowed woman who takes up her late husband's job as a police officer following his passing. Set in rural Nothern India, the movie dabbles with the issues of caste and feminism. Apart from Shahana Goswmi, it also stars Sunita Rajwar in the lead role. 

Santosh will now compete for an Academy Award nomination with Laapataa Ladies. The Kiran Rao directorial was dubbed as India's official entry to the Oscars by the Film Federation of India on September 23. The Academy jury will announce the shortlisted nominees reportedly by late November. The 97th Oscar ceremony is scheduled to take place on March 2, 2025, in Los Angeles.