It is a proud moment for PS Vinothraj. As his directorial venture, Koozhangal (Pebbles) has been selected as India's official entry to the 94th Academy Awards. The 15-member selection committee headed by Shaji N Karun announced this news, while the news was confirmed by the Film Federation of India (FFI) Secretary-General Supran Sen. The decision was taken unanimously confirmed Supran Sen. The Academy Awards for the year 2021 are scheduled to be held on March 27, 2022, in Los Angeles, United States of America.
As reported in ETimes, Shaji N Karun said, “In the centenary year of Satyajit Ray, it is rather poetic that we had the screening in Kolkata. Ray was the torchbearer of Indian content to the world and we will strive to select a film that epitomises Indianness and its varied culture.” Koozhangal is set to be screened at the FestiFreak film festival held in Argentina, it has won the Tiger Award at the 50th International Film Festival Rotterdam that took place in the Netherlands.
The film had to complete with 14 films from across India which were also being reviewed by the federation. This included Bollywood films such as Vidya Balan’s Sherni and Shoojit Sircar's Sardar Udham Singh starring Vicky Kaushal, Sidharth Malhotra-starrer Shershaah, Kaagaz starring Pankaj Tripathi and Farhan Akhtar's Toofan.
Tamil film #Pebbles/ #Koozhangal by @PsVinothraj, produced by #Nayanthara and @VigneshShivN, premieres tomorrow at the @IFFR 2021.@thisisysr @Rowdy_Pictures @LearnNteachProd @AmudhavanKar @filmbazaarindia @thecutsmaker @ParthiBDOP pic.twitter.com/LwzrpvSNBT
— CinemaRare (@CinemaRareIN) February 3, 2021
While from the regional films it had to compete with Tamil film Mandela, Marathi films- Aata Vel Zaali, Karkhanisanchi Waari and Godavari. It also included Assamese film Bridge, Gujarati film Chhello Show and Malayalam movie Nayattu and Gojri film Laila Aur Satt Geet. ALSO READ: Oscars 2021: Vidya Balan, Ekta Kapoor And Shobha Kapoor Join Hollywood Biggies As They Get Invited to Academy’s Class of 2021; See The Complete LIST
Koozhangal is inspired by a real-life incident in the director’s life. It showcases a rapport between an alcoholic father and his son, and their journey to get back his wife/mother, who is gone to her father’s house. The film is presented by Nayanthara and Vignesh Shivan.
Image Source: Twitter