Dubai producers jubilant over Jallikattu's Oscar entry

When Malayalam action film Jallikattu's director, Lijo Jose Pellissery, told producers O Thomas Panicker and Naushad Salahudin — both Dubai-based Indian expats — that the movie, released in 2019, will reach the Oscars, they didn't quite believe him. That was until Wednesday when it was named as India's official entry to Oscars this year in the Best International Feature Film category. "It was too big a dream, but by God's grace, here we are, one step closer," they told City Times on Thursday.

The movie, based on writer S.Hareesh’s story Maoist, explores the baser instincts of human beings in a small Kerala hamlet when a buffalo escapes from the butcher and runs amok.

Closely connected to the Malayalam film industry with two of his uncles being veteran producers, Thomas is an art lover expecting to push beyond the limits of where the visual medium is today. "We wanted to do something beyond the usual 'commercial-success-formula' movies. Money-making was not our motive. We were looking for an original artist and we found that in Lijo," he explained.

Noushad, executive producer of Jallikattu, reminisced how the film began its journey. "When we first heard the script, we knew this had to be made. Also, in the process, a long-term friendship was made. We are now set to produce our next movie Churuli, together," he said.