Oscars 2026: Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1 and Tanvi The Great enter Best Picture consideration

Kantara and Tanvi The Great enter Oscar 2026 race

• Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1 and Tanvi The Great qualify for 2026 Oscars Best Picture
• Both films met strict Academy eligibility and inclusion standards
• Official Oscar nominations to be announced on January 22

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As the 98th Academy Awards approach, Indian cinema is once again gaining worldwide attention.

News of the deserving two films from India on the official list of movies eligible for Oscars 2026 consideration has brought lots of excitement to the industry.

The two films, Rishab Shetty's Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1 and Anupam Kher's Tanvi The Great have made it to the highly coveted Best Picture consideration list, presenting Indian storytelling to the world.

According to a report by Variety, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has revealed a list of 201 feature films that qualify for Best Picture consideration. These films were not selected lightly.

Each one had to meet strict eligibility requirements, including qualifying theatrical runs and the submission of a confidential Academy Representation and Inclusion Standards Entry (RAISE) form.

The films were also required to meet at least two of the Academy’s four inclusion standards and complete theatrical screenings in 10 of the top 50 US markets within 45 days of their 2025 release.

Both Kantara: A LegendChapter 1 and Tanvi The Great not only met these benchmarks but also qualified among the worldwide competitors, thereby reinforcing Indias increasing footprint at the Oscars.

The official nominations will be announced on 22 January, a date that filmmakers and fans are eagerly counting down to.

Directed by Rishab Shetty, Kantara: A Legend—Chapter 1 takes audiences deep into the spiritual and cultural history of Daiva worship in Tulunadu, tracing its roots to the fourth-century Kadamba dynasty.

Also Read: Dashavatar enters Oscars 2026 shortlist, creates history becoming first Marathi film to shine at global scale

Rishab Shetty plays Berme in Kantara, a guardian of the Kantara forest and the tribal people living there. The film, which was released on 2 October 2025, takes the legacy of Kantara to the next level, mixing mythology, history, and folklore in a visually vibrant story.

Meanwhile, Tanvi The Great, a movie by Anupam Kher, explores a more personal and emotional narrative. It features Shubhangi playing the role of Tanvi Raina, a young autistic girl with a strong desire to enlist in the Indian Army, a wish inspired by her late father who served in the army.

Besides creating the main characters, the film also features Jackie Shroff, Boman Irani, and Karan Tacker, who bring more layers and sincerity to the story.