In a historic achievement for Indian regional cinema, a Marathi film has broken new ground on the international stage. Filmmaker Subodh Khanolkar's 'Dashavatar' has officially entered the Oscars contention list ahead of the upcoming Academy Awards, as announced by the makers.
A Historic Announcement for Marathi Cinema
The monumental news was shared on social media by Zee Studios, which hailed the moment as a historic first for Marathi cinema. The studio declared that 'Dashavatar' is the first Marathi film ever to make it to the Oscar contention list. They described the project as a story "born of red soil" that has now earned a prestigious spot on a global platform.
The film's production house, Ocean Film Company, resonated with this sentiment. They called the recognition a landmark moment, significant not only for the film's team but for the entire regional film industry. The producers highlighted that this Oscar journey is the culmination of years of passion, unwavering belief, and immense collective effort. They expressed honour in seeing Marathi storytelling resonate with an international audience.
Director's Confirmation and Global Standing
Director Subodh Khanolkar personally confirmed the news on Instagram by sharing a screenshot of an official email from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. In his post, he revealed that 'Dashavatar' was selected in the main competition's open film category. Khanolkar noted that this achievement likely marks the film as the first from the Marathi industry to receive this distinction.
He provided further context on the scale of this accomplishment. The film is reportedly the only Marathi title among approximately 150 films chosen from thousands of submissions worldwide. Additionally, 'Dashavatar' is the first Marathi film to be screened in the exclusive Academy Screening Room, a crucial step in the awards consideration process.
Star Cast, Crew, and Key Dates
'Dashavatar' is written and directed by Subodh Khanolkar and features a celebrated ensemble cast led by veteran actor Dilip Prabhavalkar. The supporting cast includes prominent names such as:
- Mahesh Manjrekar
- Bharat Jadhav
- Siddharth Menon
- Priyadarshini Indalkar
- Vijay Kenkare
- Ravi Kale
- Abhinay Berde
- Sunil Tawade
- Aarti Wadagbalkar
- Lokesh Mittal
The film is a collaborative production backed by Zee Studios, Ocean Film Company, and Ocean Art House Production. The producer's roster includes Sujay Hande, Onkar Kate, Subodh Khanolkar, Ashok Hande, Aditya Joshi, Nitin Sahasrabudhe, Mrunal Sahasrabudhe, Sanjay Dubey, and Vinayak Joshi. 'Dashavatar' was released in theatres on 12 September 2025.
Looking ahead, the Oscar nominations across all categories will be finalized between 12 and 16 January 2026. The official list of nominees is scheduled to be announced on 22 January 2026. The grand 98th Academy Awards ceremony is set to take place on 15 March 2026 at the iconic Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles.
