NEW DELHI: Filmmaker Vetrimaaran’s crime thriller “Visaranai” today beat competition from films like “Bajirao Mastani” and “Fan” to become India’s official entry to the Oscars next year in the best foreign film category.
The movie, which won three honours at this year’s National Film Awards, has been produced by actor Dhanush.
“We selected ‘Visaranai’ on the basis of concept, treatment and technique. There were other good films like ‘Sairat’, ‘Bajirao Mastani’, ‘Sultan’, ‘Fan’, ‘Airlift’ and ‘Udta Punjab’. There was a Bengali film also in the race. The decision was unanimous,” filmmaker Ketan Mehta, chairman of the selection committee of Film Federation of India, told reporters.
There were total 29 films in the competition, FFI secretary general Supran Sen said.
“Visaranai” is based on the novel “Lock Up” by M Chandrakumar.
Featuring Dinesh Ravi, Anandhi and Aadukalam Murugadoss in the lead roles, the film deals with police brutality, corruption, and loss of innocence in the face of injustice.
“I am happy. Thank you,” Vetrimaaran said when contacted.
“Visaaranai #Anbum #amaithiyum malarathum (‘Let love and peace bloom’),” Dinesh tweeted in Tamil.
Pandi (Ravi), Murugan (Murugadoss), Afzal (Rathnasamy), Kumar (Pradheesh Raj) are homeless Tamil labourers who are working in Andhra Pradesh.
Their life takes a turn for worse when they are caught, beaten and tortured brutally in police lock-up for a theft they did not commit, due to police’s need to close a robbery case they are dealing with.
“Visaranai” is the ninth Tamil movie to represent India at Oscars. The last Tamil film to be submitted as India’s oscar entry was Kamal Haasan’s “Hey Ram” (2000). Other submissions were “Nayakan”, “Anjali”, “Deiva Magan” and “Jeans” among others. (AGENCIES)
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