India’s Oscars 2026 Run Starts With ‘Mahavatar Narsimha’

India’s participation in the 98th Academy Awards (Oscars 2026) has been set in motion, with one confirmed entry already moving into the global selection process. A complete list of Indian submissions for all categories has not yet been released, but early progress has been marked by the inclusion of a major animated film.

It has been confirmed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) that India’s mythological animated feature Mahavatar Narsimha has been placed in the longlist of 35 films eligible for the Best Animated Feature Film category. The longlist has been published by AMPAS as part of its annual eligibility announcement, which is issued before the voting phase begins.

The film, directed by Ashwin Kumar and produced by Shilpaa Dhawan under Hombale Films, has been developed around the story of Lord Narasimha, the half-man and half-lion incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The project has been positioned as the first instalment of a planned seven-part “Mahavatar Cinematic Universe,” based on the ten avatars of Vishnu. The movie is currently available for streaming on Netflix.

It has been stated by AMPAS that all longlisted animated features, including Mahavatar Narsimha , must complete their qualifying theatrical release and comply with all category rules before advancing to the next stage. Only after this process is completed will the films be considered for nomination.

Apart from the Animated Feature category, India’s expected entries for other sections of the Academy Awards are yet to be officially named. The Film Federation of India (FFI) has not announced the country’s submission for the Best International Feature Film category. The selection is usually made between September and October each year, but no official declaration has been issued for the 2026 awards cycle.

Longlists and eligibility announcements for several other categories including Best Documentary Feature, Best Documentary Short Subject, Best Live Action Short Film, Best Original Song, Best Original Score, and technical categories are also pending from AMPAS. Indian filmmakers and production houses are expected to participate, but no confirmed titles have been publicly released so far.

India’s growing visibility at the Oscars in recent years, highlighted by global recognition for films and documentaries across multiple sections, has created expectations for a strong showing in 2026. For now, however, Mahavatar Narsimha remains the only officially confirmed Indian entry in the public domain.

Further clarity on India’s complete Oscar lineup is expected once AMPAS releases additional category longlists in December 2025 and January 2026.