Marathi film Dashavatar, directed by Subodh Khanolkar, has entered the official Oscar contention list for the 98th Academy Awards (Oscars 2026). This marks a historic milestone for regional Indian cinema. The film is among 150–250 titles shortlisted from over 2,000 global submissions, signalling the start of the Academy’s formal evaluation process.
First Marathi Film to Enter the Oscar Contention List 🏆
Born of red soil. Carried by tradition. Now global. ✨Dashavatar is heading towards the Oscars!#DASHAVATAR #DashavatarHeadingTowardsOscar #Dashavatarfilm #oscarnomination #DilipPrabhavalkar #OceanArtHouse… pic.twitter.com/UjjnxvdF6z
— Zee Studios (@ZeeStudios_) January 4, 2026
Dashavatar Highlights Konkan Folk Story
Dashavatar, backed by Zee Studios and Ocean Film Company, tells the story of Babuli Mestri, a folk performer from Konkan. He navigates tradition and modernity while portraying the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu. The film features Dilip Prabhavalkar, Mahesh Manjrekar, Bharat Jadhav, Siddharth Menon, and others. It was released on September 12, 2025.
Zee Studios and the production house hailed this recognition as a landmark moment for Marathi cinema. Khanolkar confirmed the news on Instagram, highlighting that Dashavatar may be the first Marathi film to reach this stage. The achievement reflects years of dedication and cultural storytelling.
