Marathi Film 'Dashavatar' Enters Oscar 2026 Contention List, Boosts Regional Cinema

• Subodh Khanolkar's Marathi film 'Dashavatar' has officially entered the Oscar 2026 contention list, a significant boost for regional Indian cinema.
• Director Khanolkar confirmed the news, with Zee Studios and Ocean Film Company calling it a 'historic moment' for Marathi cinema.
• 'Dashavatar' is among 150-250 films selected from over 2,000 global submissions for the Academy's formal evaluation process.
• The film, starring Dilip Prabhavalkar and Mahesh Manjrekar, tells the story of folk performer Babuli Mestri.
• Released on September 12, 2025, it joins Neeraj Ghaywan’s 'Homebound' in India's Oscar journey.

Why It Matters: 'Dashavatar' makes history for Marathi cinema by entering the Oscar 2026 contention list.