Oscar 2026: From Kantara: Chapter 1 to Tanvi The Great, Five Indian Films Competing for Best Film Glory

Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1 is a 2025 Kannada-language period action-thriller directed by and starring Rishab Shetty, serving as a prequel to the 2022 hit Kantara. Released theatrically on October 2, 2025, and now streaming on Amazon Prime Video in multiple languages, the film follows Berme, the protector of the Kantara forest, as he defends his tribe and the sacred land against King Vijayendra’s greed and Prince Kulashekhara’s aggression.

In 2026, Narasimha is a major topic in Indian cinema, often mentioned alongside Kantara: Chapter 1 for their shared themes of divine justice and Oscar buzz. Mahavatar Narasimha (2025) is a separate animated mythological epic, directed by Ashwin Kumar and presented by Hombale Films, the same studio behind Kantara. This 3D action animation depicts Lord Vishnu’s fourth avatar and became a milestone for Indian animation, earning over ₹100 crore and launching a planned seven-part Mahavatar Cinematic Universe.

Tanvi: The Great is a 2025 Hindi-language drama directed by Anupam Kher, marking his first directorial venture in 23 years. The film tells the inspiring story of Tanvi Raina (Shubhangi Dutt), a 21-year-old woman on the autism spectrum determined to fulfill her late father’s dream of saluting the national flag at the Siachen Glacier. Released theatrically on July 18, 2025. 

Released on May 1, 2025, this Tamil-language film follows a Sri Lankan Tamil family who arrive in India as undocumented immigrants seeking a better life after an economic crisis. Their efforts to settle in a Chennai neighborhood face challenges when suspicion falls on them following a bomb blast in Rameswaram. Directed by Abishan Jeevinth in his debut, the film stars M. Sasikumar as Dharmadas and Simran as Vasanthi. 

Sister Midnight is a dark comedy-thriller that is getting attention on the global award circuit. Directed by Karan Kandhari in his debut, the UK-India co-production premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival and released in India on May 30, 2025. It is now available to stream on Amazon Prime Video. The film follows Uma (Radhika Apte), a newly married woman living in a small Mumbai shack, who struggles with her unhappy arranged marriage. Ashok Pathak plays her husband Gopal, and Chhaya Kadam plays Sheetal.