Oscar Dreams of 2018 crashed. The hopes and aspirations surrounding the Malayalam film '2018: Everyone is a Hero,' India's official entry to the Best Foreign Language Film category at the Oscars 2024, have been dimmed as it is no longer in the running. The movie, skillfully directed by Jude Anthany Joseph, revolves around the unprecedented rains and floods that struck Kerala in 2018. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced its shortlist for the Oscars 2024 on December 22, disclosing the unfortunate exclusion of '2018.'
Despite being a Tovino Thomas-starrer and a Malayalam hit, '2018' found itself left out of the prestigious Oscars race when the Academy unveiled its shortlists across 10 categories. These categories spanned from best original song and documentary feature to international feature, original score, and various crafts like hair and makeup, visual effects, and sound.
It is disheartening for admirers of Malayalam cinema, especially considering the historical context. Prior to '2018,' films like 'Guru' (1997), 'Adaminte Makan Abu' (2011), and 'Jallikattu' (2019) had been chosen as India's official entries, yet none managed to secure nominations. The exclusion of '2018' from the Oscar race has left many disheartened, as the film resonated with audiences and garnered significant acclaim.
Amidst this, the Oscars 2024 shortlist featured notable films like Greta Gerwig’s 'Barbie,' Christopher Nolan’s 'Oppenheimer,' and Martin Scorsese’s 'Killers of the Flower Moon.' These films made a mark across multiple categories, including score and sound. Additionally, Jonathan Glazer’s 'The Zone of Interest' and Yorgos Lanthimos’ 'Poor Things' were among the featured contenders.
Among the 15 international features advancing, 'The Zone of Interest' (United Kingdom), 'The Taste of Things' (France) by Trần Anh Hùng, 'T³tem' (Mexico) by Lila Avilés, and 'Fallen Leaves' (Finland) by Aki Kaurismäki stand out.
Regarding '2018,' the Malayalam film boasts an ensemble cast including Kunchacko Boban, Tovino Thomas, Asif Ali, Vineeth Sreenivasan, Aparna Balamurali, Kalaiyarasan, Narain, Lal, Indrans, Aju Varghese, Tanvi Ram, Sshivada, and Gauthami Nair. Produced by Venu Kunnappilly, CK Padma Kumar, and Anto Joseph under the banners of Kavya Film Company and PK Prime Productions, '2018' achieved commercial success, grossing over Rs 200 crore worldwide and receiving acclaim that transcended language barriers, leading to its dubbed release in several languages.