Newton Out Of Oscar Race; This Is What The Director Has To Say About It

India’s official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars 2018, Newton, is out of the race for the honour. But the movie’s team is feeling far from defeated.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Thursday announced that nine features out of 92 will advance to the next round of voting in the Foreign Language Film category for the 90th Academy Awards, according to the official website of the Oscars.

Newton, directed by Amit V. Masurkar and starring the stellar Rajkummar Rao in a story set against the backdrop of elections in the world’s largest democracy, was not a part of it.

Masurkar said: “The Foreign Film Category is like the Olympics. We are competing with the best in the world, so it’s extremely tough. The response from Academy members to Newton was very positive and we are grateful to everyone who supported us on this journey.

“The experience has enriched us and has encouraged me to push my limits each time I make a new film.”

Filmmaker Hansal Mehta, who has always lent unrelenting support his blue-eyed boy Rajkummar and Newton — even when it was caught in a plagiarism row, also said that missing the Oscar bus changes nothing for this film’s credentials.

Mehta, claimed he was trolled after Newton was ousted from the competition, tweeted: “Oscars or no Oscars, it remains one of the finest films made in our country in a long time.”