MUMBAI: Marathi film Harischandrachi Factory has been nominated as India‘s official entry to this year‘s Oscars in the Foreign Film Category. This was announced by the Film Federation of India (FFI) jury headed by veteran actress Asha Parekh.

Sandeep Sawant‘s Shwaas (2004) was the last Marathi film to be at the Oscar.

Initially twelve films were nominated but the jury unanimously voted for this film that shows the making of the country‘s first motion picture. Other films that were also in the running included Dev D, Dilli 6, Fashion, New York, Mee Shivajiraje Bhosale Boltoy, Kaminey, the to-be released What‘s Your Raashee? and the only offering from the South in T Hariharan‘s Malayalam film Pazhassi Raja starring Mamoothy.

Harischandrachi Factory is on the making of Raja Harishchandra, India‘s first
full-length feature film made in 1913 by Dadasaheb Phalke.The low-budget period film was completed in January and since has bagged a series of international awards and honours.

Executive producer of Harischandrachi Factory Shrirang Godbole quipped, "in a few days we will meet the authorities of the FFI and decide upon the strategy for the film‘s publicity."

The film is scheduled to release by the year-end.