Karan Johar backs selection of 'Court' as India's Oscar entry

Calling it the best film of the year, Karan Johar has supported selection of Marathi movie Court as India's official entry to Oscars next year.

The courtroom drama, directed by debutant filmmaker Chaitanya Tamhane, has been selected as the official entry to the prestigious awards after beating 30 films including PK, Haider and Bajrangi Bhaijaan.

"#court is undeniably a great decision! One off the best films I have seen this year... Finger crossed for its victorious journey ahead...," Johar posted on Twitter. The independent and low-budget drama received widespread praise from the critics, who hailed it as one of the best movies to emerge from the country in recent times.

Court also won the Best Picture at the National film awards this year, besides winning 17 international honours after its premiere at the Venice International Film Festival in 2014. India is yet to win an Oscar in the best foreign film category. The last Indian film that made it to the final five list was Ashutosh Gowariker's Lagaan. Mother India and Salaam Bombay are the other two Indian films to have made it to the list.