Marathi cinema has reached a significant global milestone with filmmaker Subodh Khanolkar’s ‘Dashavatar’ entering the Oscars 2026 contention list. The development places the film in the race for the upcoming Academy Awards, marking a rare and notable moment for regional Indian cinema on the international stage.

According to an ANI report, the makers confirmed the news on Sunday, celebrating the film’s inclusion in the prestigious list. Zee Studios Official announced the achievement through a social media post, calling it a proud moment for Marathi cinema. “First Marathi Film to Enter the Oscar Contention List. Born of red soil. Carried by tradition. Now global. Dashavatar is heading towards the Oscars!” the post read.

With this recognition, ‘Dashavatar’ has become the first-ever Marathi film to officially enter the Oscars contention list. The film’s production house, Ocean Film Company, described the development as a landmark achievement, saying it reflects the passion, belief and relentless effort of the entire team, while also allowing Marathi storytelling to shine on a global platform.

Director Subodh Khanolkar also shared his reaction on Instagram, posting a screenshot of the email received from the Academy. He wrote that the selection brought deep satisfaction after years of hard work, not just because the film made the list, but because a Marathi film has found space on a global platform. Khanolkar noted that ‘Dashavatar’ is likely the only Marathi film among more than 150 titles selected from thousands of submissions, and the first Marathi movie to be showcased in the Academy Screening Room.

Written and directed by Khanolkar, ‘Dashavatar’ stars Dilip Prabhavalkar in the lead role, supported by an ensemble cast including Mahesh Manjrekar, Bharat Jadhav, Siddharth Menon, Priyadarshini Indalkar, Vijay Kenkare, Ravi Kale, Abhinay Berde, Sunil Tawade, Aarti Wadagbalkar and Lokesh Mittal. The film draws on deep cultural and philosophical themes rooted in Indian tradition.

The film has been produced under the banners of Zee Studios, Ocean Film Company and Ocean Art House Production. The producers include Sujay Hande, Onkar Kate, Subodh Khanolkar, Ashok Hande, Aditya Joshi, Nitin Sahasrabudhe, Mrunal Sahasrabudhe, Sanjay Dubey and Vinayak Joshi. Dashavatar was released theatrically on September 12, 2025.

As per The Hollywood Reporter, voting for nominations across categories will take place between January 12 and January 16, 2026, with the official nominations set to be announced on January 22, 2026. The 98th Academy Awards ceremony will be held on March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood.

For the makers of ‘Dashavatar’ and the Marathi film industry at large, the film’s entry into the Oscars contention list stands as a defining moment, signalling growing global recognition for regional Indian cinema.