In a historic moment for Marathi cinema, the film Dashavatar, starring Dilip Prabhavalkar, has entered the Oscars 2026 contention list. This marks the first time a Marathi film has achieved this feat, placing it in the running for the prestigious Academy Awards. Director Subodh Khanolkar confirmed the selection after receiving official communication from the Academy. The nominations are scheduled to be announced in January 2026, with the awards ceremony to follow in March.
Dashavatar is now among a select group of global films under consideration for the world's most esteemed film honor. The Oscar Contention List is curated from over 2,000 films submitted globally, with only approximately 150-250 films selected across various categories. Making it to this list is the first formal step in the Academy Awards evaluation process. The film has also become the first Marathi feature to be screened in the Academy Screener Room, the official Oscars viewing platform.
Ocean Film Company, the film's production house, hailed the selection as a "milestone moment" for Marathi cinema. They added that Dashavatar's journey to the Oscars is a "testament to passion, belief, and relentless effort" from their entire team and expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to showcase Marathi storytelling on a global platform. Zee Studios Official also celebrated the news on social media, calling it a "historic moment" and describing Dashavatar as a story "born of red soil" that is now reaching a global audience.
Dashavatar, directed by Subodh Khanolkar, features an ensemble cast including Dilip Prabhavalkar, Priyadarshini Indalkar, Sidhharth Menon, and Mahesh Manjrekar. The film follows Babuli Mestri, an aging folk performer from the Konkan region known for enacting the ten avatars of Vishnu. As his eyesight begins to fail and his son aspires for a modern life, Babuli faces a deep personal struggle. Khanolkar described Dashavatar as a deeply personal project rooted in his childhood memories of growing up in the Konkan region and witnessing traditional Dashavatari performances. He wove the richness of nature and the uniqueness of local culture into the film. Dilip Prabhavalkar said portraying Babuli Mestri was one of the most profound experiences of his career, requiring complete emotional surrender.
Reportedly made on a budget of ₹5 crore, Dashavatar went on to gross approximately ₹28.47 crore worldwide, emerging as one of the highest-grossing Marathi films of 2025. Dashavatar is currently streaming on OTT platforms.
As of January 4, 2026, Dashavatar is one of only two Indian films to be included in the Oscar Contention List this year, the other being Homebound. The inclusion of Dashavatar in the Oscars contention list is a watershed moment for Marathi cinema, opening doors for greater recognition and appreciation of regional Indian films on the global stage.
