Oscar Nominated Movies in Bollywood

Bollywood refers to one of the film industries of India, where many movies in Hindi are made. The fame of producing the highest number of films in India goes to Bollywood. Among the most popular movies in Bollywood, some are so rich in their content that they have competed with other foreign language films in the category of Best Foreign language Film in Academy Awards.

Mother India is considered to be one of the most admired movies in Bollywood. The story of this film is penned by Mehboob Khan and is a remake of his 1940 film Aurat. The film depicting the social set up of old India has Nargis Dutt and Sunil Dutt, playing the main characters in the film. A poor woman in rural India, in spite of all the hardships in life, holds on to good principles and values. Even then she murders her own son, at the end, in order to keep her promise given to the landlord. The film was chosen as one of the five Best Foreign language films at Oscars in the year 1958. Mother India is the representation of India after Independence and became the first Indian film to compete at the Oscars.

Salaam Bombay! became the second film to be chosen from India at the Oscars among other movies in Bollywood. Released in the year 1988, this film depicted the lives of many street children living in Bombay (now Mumbai). The movie has received numerous awards in many national and international film festivals. Some of the most revered awards, received by this Mira Nair film are Golden Camera Award at the Cannes Film Festival, National Film Award for Best Feature Film and Montreal World Film Festival.

Lagaan, starring Amir Khan, India's one of the most leading actors, became the third entry into Oscars. Released in the year 2001, the film is set up in the background of Victorian era, where British ruled the Indian subcontinent. Lagaan tells the story of a village, which unites to fight against the increase in taxation by the British Government. The film directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, with a budget of 250 million, also had some of the British actors.

Water, directed by Deepa Mehta, an Indian-born woman director, is the fourth film to be nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars. With the backdrop of India of 1938, the movie explores lives of many widows in Varanasi. The film, which started off many controversies, starred many talented Indian actors and actresses like Liza Ray, Vinay Pathak, Raghubir Yadav and John Abraham.

Rang De Basanti, by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, had the contemporary India portrayed through the characters of young college going students. The film brings forth the evolution of these students from being passive to corrupt social system to changing the rules by giving their lives. The film became a huge influence on young Indians, who were disappointed with the corrupt Government. This film got nominated at the Oscars after competing with other movies in Bollywood.