Malayalam movie Jallikattu has been selected as India’s official submission for the Best International Feature Film language category by the Film Federation of India at the 93rd Academy Awards. The 93rd Academy Awards will be held on April 25, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. Jallikattu was chosen out of 27 films across Hindi, Odiya, Marathi, Malayalam and other language. 

The film is based on the short story Maoist by S Hareesh, who has also written the screenplay along with R Jayakumar. The film directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery, produced by O.Thomas Panicker. Starring Antony Varghese, Chemban Vinod Jose, Sabumon Abdusamad, Santhy Balachandran.

The plot follows a bull that escapes from a slaughterhouse in a hilly remote village and the entire village men gathering to hunt down the animal. 

Sharing the reason behind choosing Jallikattu, Rahul Rawail, Chairman, Jury Board – Film Federation Of India, heaped praise on the film’s theme, production quality and Lijo Jose Pellissery’s direction. He said, “It is a film which really brings out the raw side of human beings, that we are worse than animals. The film has been depicted wonderfully. The film has been shot very well. Lijo is an extremely competent director. So that’s why we zeroed in on Jallikattu.”

The movie had its world premiere at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival, following which it was also screened at the 24th Busan International Film Festival. Jallikattu director Lijo Jose Pellissery won Best Director award at the 50th International Film Festival of India (IFFI),50th Kerala State Film Awards, Sinema Zetu International Film Festival Award SZIFF and International Film Festival of Kerala. Jallikattu also nominated in Asia Film Awards for the category of Best Cinematography and Best Original Music.

In 2019, the Film Federation of India committee picked Zoya Akhtar’s Gully Boy for the 2020 Oscars starring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt.

Lijo has made critically acclaimed films such as Amen, Angamaly Diaries and Ee.Ma.Yau in the past.