Oscars 2026: Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound Is India’s Official Entry - So How Did Kantara Chapter 1, Tanvi The Great Enter Race?

India’s presence at the Oscars 2026 has taken an interesting turn. Multiple films have entered the fray and awards conversation through different ways. Even though Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound, with Ishaan

Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor, remains India’s official entry and has already progressed to the next round of voting in the Best International Feature Film category, two more well-known Indian titles – Kantara: Chapter 1 and Tanvi The Great – have now joined the Oscars race in the Best Picture category as well. Not only these, Mahavatar Narasimha, Tourist Family and Sister Midnight are also there.The developments have sparked widespread curiosity If Homebound is India’s official entry, how are two other Indian films - Kantara Chapter 1 and Tanvi The Great - simultaneously in the Oscars race?

India’s Official Entry vs Best Picture Contenders

Every year, countries globally select one official submission for the Best International Feature Film category. In India, this decision is made by a government approved selection committee. For Oscars 2026, that film has been deemed to be Homebound, directed by Neeraj Ghaywan.Once selected, the film competes only in the International Feature Film category, where it must clear multiple rounds of Academy voting to make it to the final nomination. Homebound advancing to the next round is a significant achievement. This places it firmly in contention among global titles.

On the other hand, Rishab Shetty’s Kantara: Chapter 1 and Anupam Kher’s Tanvi The Great are not competing as India’s official entry. Instead they are running in the Best Picture race a category that follows completely different eligibility and submission process.

201 Films in the Best Picture Race

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) recently unveiled the list of 201 films from around the world that are eligible for consideration in the Best Picture category at the 98th Academy Awards.What is interesting to note is that unlike the International Feature Film category - which is limited to one submission per country - Best Picture has no country-wise restriction. Any film, regardless of language or origin, can qualify as long as it meets the Academy’s stringent eligibility criteria. Kantara: Chapter 1 and Tanvi The Great have met these requirements, and has thus been able to officially enter the global Best Picture race.

But How Did Kantara Chapter 1 and Tanvi The Great Qualify For Best Picture?

To be eligible for Best Picture, films must go beyond basic submission rules and meet several additional conditions laid down by the Academy. For starters, a film must have a minimum runtime of over 40 minutes, ruling out short films and limited-format projects. Furthermore, the film must be exhibited in a qualifying format - typically 35mm, 70mm, or a qualifying digital cinema format approved by the Academy.

Apart from these, a theatrical run is mandatory. Filmmakers must also submit a confidential Academy Representation and Inclusion Standards Entry (RAISE) form, detailing how the film meets the Academy’s diversity and inclusion benchmarks. To qualify, the film must also complete a theatrical engagement in at least 10 of the top 50 US markets within 45 days of its initial release in 2025. The film must also meet at least two of the Academy’s four inclusion standards.Finally, producers often organise private screenings for Academy members and circulate official screeners to ensure wider visibility during the voting process. By fulfilling all these conditions, Kantara: Chapter 1 and Tanvi The Great have secured their places among the 201 films eligible for Best Picture consideration.

Why Kantara: Chapter 1 And Tanvi The Great Stand Out?

A prequel to the 2022 film Kantara, Rishab Shetty’s Kantara: Chapter 1 expanded the universe, giving it context. Written, directed and headlined by Rishab Shetty, the film reportedly amassed an estimated Rs 813.50 crore at the global box office.Tanvi The Great, on the other hand, marks Anupam Kher’s return to direction 23 years after his debut Om Jai Jagadish. The film stars Shubhangi in the titular role and is a poignant exploration of themes of autism, aspiration, and patriotism, with the Indian Army serving as the milieu.

What Happens Next For Kantara Chapter 1 And Tanvi The Great?

While Homebound continues its journey in the International Feature Film category, Kantara: Chapter 1 and Tanvi The Great will now compete in one of the most crowded and competitive races at the Oscars. The final nominations for the 98th Academy Awards will be announced on January 22, when it will become clear how far these Indian films have progressed on the global stage.