India has settled on Rajkumar Rao-starrer Newton as its official entry to the Foreign Language Film category at the 90th Academy Awards.
The decision was announced by the Film Federation of India, which considered a shortlist of 26 titles, reports Variety.
Newton revolves around a government clerk who is determined to make fair elections happen in his home state Chhattisgarh. But lax security and the looming threat of guerrilla attacks by communist rebels make this a complicated mission. The film is director Amit Masurkar's most high-profile release.
Newton released in cinemas in India yesterday and has been receiving rave reviews.
India has previously received Oscar nominations for Mother India, Salaam Bombay and Lagaan, but has yet to win in the category. Pakistan has submitted Saawan, the story of a polio-stricken boy in Balochistan, as its official Oscar 2018 entry. Another Urdu-language feature My Pure Land, directed by Sam Masud, has been sent as Britain's submission to the Academy Awards this year.
