British-Indian film director and documentarian Sandhya Suri’s film Santosh has been selected by the British Academy as the UK’s entry for the Oscars’ International Feature Film category. This is Sandhya’s first feature film as a director, and she also wrote the script. She is known for her documentaries I for India (2005) and Around India with a Movie Camera (2018).
Shot in Hindi, Santosh had its world premiere in the Un Certain Regard section at the 77th Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. The film features Shahana Goswami in the lead role, with Sunita Rajwar playing an important part, along with Sanjay Bishnoi, Kushal Dubey, and others. Set in rural North India, Santosh follows a 28-year-old widow who becomes a constable after her husband dies. Her life changes when a charismatic feminist inspector recruits her to investigate the murder of an underage girl from a lower caste.
In an earlier chat with The Indian Express at Cannes, Shahana Goswami was asked about the film’s release in India due to its themes. The actor had said that such films usually have a niche release. “Films like these will always have a niche release because that is the nature of the business. But it would be heartbreaking if it didn’t, because we have made a film to be watched. As with other films which are subversive, you can hold up a mirror without pointing fingers at anyone. But I’m hopeful, the humanity of it might help it come out,” she had said.
Meanwhile, ‘Laapataa Ladies’ is India’s official entry for Oscars 2025. The film is directed by Kiran Rao and co-produced by Aamir Khan. The film released earlier this year and was received with much love. The film stars Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Shrivastava, Chhaya Kadam and Ravi Kishan. Laapataa Ladies’ Oscar entry comes just a few days after Kiran Rao confessed it is her dream that Laapataa Ladies goes to the Oscars.[hq]
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