LOS ANGELES: Ranbir Kapoor-Priyanka Chopra starrer ‘Barfi!’ is out of Oscar race after it failed to qualify for the next voting round in the best foreign film category, according to the Academy.
The film, which revolved around the love story of a deaf-mute boy and an autistic girl, played by Ranbir and Priyanka, was India’s entry to the Oscars this year.
Released on September 14, the film was lauded by the critics as well as audience.
It turned out to be another disappointing year for India at the Oscars. In the past, only Aamir Khan starrer “Lagaan” in 2002, Mira Nair’s “Salaam Bombay!” in 1989 and Mehboob Khan’s “Mother India” in 1958 have managed to earn nominations in the foreign film category without registering any wins.
Out of the 71 films that have qualified for the Oscars from across the world, only nine films are advancing to the next round of voting.
The shortlist will be winnowed down to the five nominees by specially invited committees in New York and Los Angeles.
The films that have made it to the list are Michael Haneke’s much lauded drama “Amour” from Austria, Kim Nguyen’s “War Witch” from Canada, Pablo Larrain’s “No” from Chile, Nikolaj Arcel’s “A Royal Affair” from Denmark, “The Intouchables” Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano from France, Baltasar Kormkur’s “The Deep” from Iceland, Joachim Rnning and Espen Sandberg’s “Kon-Tiki” from Norway, Ursula Meier’s “Sister” from Switzerland and Romanian film “Beyond the Hills’ by Cristian Mungiu.
The 85th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Thursday on January 10, 2013 in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.
The Oscar awards will take place on February 24, 2013, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center. The Oscar presentation will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide. -PTI