Pan Nalin’s Chhello Show chosen as India’s official entry for the 2023 Oscars

The Gujarati film Chhello Show (Last Film Show), directed by Pan Nalin, has been chosen as India’s official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 95th Academy Awards next year.

The semi-autobiographical drama, starring Bhavin Rabari, Vikas Bata, Richa Meena, Bhavesh Shrimali, Dipen Raval and Rahul Koli, is set in the western region of Gujarat.

Chhello Show review: Nostalgic look at a bygone era of cinema through a child’s eyes

The coming-of-age story pays homage to the medium of cinema as it captures the transition from celluloid to digital, showing how the change affected a single-screen theatre in the film which the lead character Samay used to frequent.
 
Chhello Show opened the Tribeca Festival last year. It has won several awards across global film festivals since its world premiere in New York.

Sharing his excitement upon its selection, writer-director Pan stated, “I could have never imagined such a day would come and bring light and celebration of light. Chhello Show has been enjoying love from around the world but there was an ache in my heart that how do I make India discover it? Now I can breathe again and believe in cinema that entertains, inspires and enlightens! Thank you FFI [Film Federation of India], thank you jury.”

Producer Siddharth Roy Kapur shared, “We are thrilled and honoured that our film Last Film Show has been selected to represent India at the Academy Awards. There could not be a more apt time for a film like this one, that celebrates the magic and wonder of cinema and the theatrical experience. When cinema-going around the world has been disrupted by a pandemic, it reminds audiences anew of the first time they fell in love with the experience of watching a movie in a darkened cinema hall. It is a matter of great pride for us to represent our country with this film, and with the backing of our partners Samuel Goldwyn Films and Orange Studio, we will make sure that we give it our best shot at the Academy Awards!”

Chhello Show is due to be released in theatres in Gujarat and select screens across India on 14 October.

Samuel Goldwyn Films and Orange Studio are the film’s international distributors in the US and European markets respectively. Shochiku Studios is the Japanese distributor, while Medusa Film will bring the Gujarati film to Italian cinemas.

The Gujarati film is produced by Roy Kapur Films, Jugaad Motion Pictures, Monsoon Films, Chhello Show LLP, and Marc Duale.