Aamir Khan’s Lagaan is still the most recent Indian film to receive an Oscar nomination in the Best International Feature category. When it was nominated over twenty years ago, the category was referred to as Best Foreign Language Film. This year, Aamir is hoping for another nomination as he promotes Laapataa Ladies, India’s official entry for the Oscars. The comedy-drama is directed by his ex-wife, Kiran Rao, and produced by Aamir himself.
In a recent interview with the BBC Asian Network, Aamir Khan shared his differing opinion from Shah Rukh Khan regarding the reasons Indian films struggle to gain recognition at the Oscars. Shah Rukh previously stated that Lagaan successfully blended art and commercial elements, but emphasized the need for Indian films to adapt their format. He likened it to dressing appropriately for a party, suggesting that filmmakers should move away from the traditional two-and-a-half-hour runtime filled with five songs. Aamir responded firmly, stating that he disagrees with this perspective, pointing out that Lagaan was indeed a lengthy film with multiple songs and still managed to earn a nomination. He believes that the key to getting nominated lies in creating a film that resonates emotionally with audiences and Oscar voters alike. Aamir also noted that competing in the Best International Feature category is particularly challenging because it includes the best films from each country, making it a tough arena for any film to stand out.
Aamir Khan firmly disagreed, stating, “I don’t agree with that. Lagaan was three hours and 42 minutes long and featured six songs, yet it received a nomination. For a film to be nominated, it has to be truly loved by the Academy members. Lagaan shows that having songs and being lengthy isn’t an issue for them. In my view, the key factors are the quality of your work and your ability to connect emotionally with the audience. At the end of the day, Academy members are just like everyone else—they’re human too.”
Aamir Khan explained that getting an Oscar nomination is not as simple as it may seem. He noted that many individuals fail to recognize that this is the toughest category at the Oscars. In the Best Film competition, you face a smaller pool of films. However, in the Best International Feature category, you’re facing the top film from every country. Consider India: we produce around 1,000 films each year. To be chosen as India’s entry, you first have to stand out from those 1,000 films. This fact often gets forgotten. Then, you enter a field with about 80 other films from around the world. Being nominated among those 80 is quite difficult. The reason India doesn’t get nominations every year is that there are exceptional films from countries like Iran, Germany, and France. You’re competing with some very strong contenders.”
Only three Indian films have ever received nominations in the International Feature category: Mother India, Salaam Bombay, and Lagaan. However, in recent years, there has been a growing interest in Indian cinema at the Oscars. RRR won an award for Best Original Song, while The Elephant Whisperers took home the Oscar for Best Documentary Short. Additionally, films like Writing with Fire and All That Breathes have received nominations in the Best Documentary Feature category. This year, titles such as Santosh, Girls Will Be Girls, and All We Imagine As Light are being considered as potential contenders in various categories.
