India has secured its position in Oscar history with notable triumphant victories at the 55th, 81st, and 95th Academy Awards, across various categories, check the list of Indian Oscar winners.
Oscar Awards
The Oscar Awards commonly known as the Academy Awards represent the highest form of recognition in the global film industry. Every year, artists from various parts of the world have to compete for accolades in a wide array of categories. India is renowned for its vibrant and dynamic film industry and has demonstrated significant progress in global cinema as several Indian artists have achieved success at the Oscars thus leaving a lasting impression on the international cinematic landscape.
List of Indian Oscar Winners
India has secured its position in Oscar history with notable triumphant victories at the 55th, 81st, and 95th Academy Awards, across various categories, including Best Original Song, Best Documentary, Best Sound Mixing, Best Original Score, and Best Costume Design. As we look ahead to the upcoming Academy Awards Ceremonies, it is clear that more Oscar accolades are awaiting to receive India’s cinematic achievements.
Here is the list of Indian Oscar Laureates:
Here is the information arranged properly in a table:
| Indian Recipients | Category | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Bhanu Athaiya | Best Costume Design | 1983 |
| Satyajit Ray | Honorary Award | 1992 |
| Resul Pookutty | Best Sound Mixing | 2009 |
| Gulzar | Best Original Song | 2009 |
| A R Rahman | Best Original Score and Best Original Song | 2009 |
| Kartiki Gonsalves | Best Documentary Short | 2023 |
| MM Keeravani and Chandrabose | Best Original Song | 2023 |
1. Bhanu Athaiya- Best Costume Design
Bhanu Athaiya won an Academy Award in the category of “Best Costume Design” for her outstanding contributions to the film “Gandhi” in 1982. In 1953, her artistic talent was showcased as two of her creations were featured in the Progressive Artisits’ Group exhibition in Bombay.
Throughout her distinguished career, she contributed over 90 films with a range of Indian filmmakers, including megastars such as Guru Datt, Yash Chopra, B.R. Chopra, Raj Kapoor, Vijay Anand, Raj Khosla, Ashutosh Gowariker, and many more.
She also entered the realm of International cinema leaving her mark alongside directors like Conrad Rooks in “Siddhartha” (1972) and Richard Attenborough in “Gandhi” (1982).
2. Satyajit Ray- Honorary Award
Satyajit Ray, a renowned personality in Indian cinema, achieved global recognition for his work in Bengali Film making. His first film “Pather Panchali, received praise both nationally and internationally including at the 1955 Cannes Film Festival. In 1992, Ray received an Honorary Oscar for his lifetime achievements, but he was unable to attend due to poor health.
His work is celebrated worldwide for its exceptional artistic skills, establishing him as a revolutionary filmmaker among Indian Oscar winners.
3. Resul Pookutty- Best Sound Mixing
Resul Pootkutty, another notable figure from India at the Oscars, earned recognition for his performance in the globally celebrated film “Slumdog Millionaire.” Despite the movie receiving multiple nominations, Resul Pookutty won an Oscar for Best Sound Mixing at the 81st Academy Awards, sharing the award alongside Lan Tapp and Richard Pryke.
His exceptional work in sound extends to other significant films such as “Musafir”, “Saawariya”, and “Dus Kahaniyaan” which demonstrated his role in sound mixing as an inspiration for everyone.
4. Gulzar- Best Original Song
Gulzar, fondly called Gulzaar Saheb, is known for his diverse talent and skills as a lyricist, poet, writer, and filmmaker. He won an Oscar at the 81st Academy Awards for Best Original Song with “Jai Ho”. In addition to this esteemed honor, he gathered a wealth of awards including Filmfare, Grammy Awards, and National Film Award.
His remarkable accomplishments also include the Padma Bhushan in 2004 and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2013. “Jai Ho” the film of its namesake remains stand as a prime example of India’s cinema successes at the Oscars.
5. A R Rahman- Best Original Score and Best Original Song
A.R. Rahman is renowned as an iconic music composer in India and needs no introduction due to his legendary compositions. In 2009, he made history by winning two Oscars for the film “Slumdog Millionaire” – one for the original song and the other for the song “Jai Ho”.
He also became the first Indian to be nominated in three Academy Awards categories. His distinguished career is adorned with various accolades, including Grammy Awards, BAFTA Awards, Golden Globe Awards, Filmfare Awards, and National Film Awards. He was honoured with Padma Bhushan in 2010 by the Government of India.
6. Kartiki Gonsalves- Best Documentary Short
In 2022, Kartiki Gonsalves, an Indian-American short documentary filmmaker, made her first directorial venture with “The Elephant Whisperers”. The movie delves into a special connection that develops between a couple and Raghu, a baby elephant they care for after being orphaned.
Debuting at the DOC NYC Film Festival on November 9, 2022, the film, produced by Sikhya Entertainment, was made available globally on Netflix on December 8, 2022.
It achieved additional recognition by securing the prestigious award for Best Documentary Short Film at the 2023 Oscars.
7. MM Keeravani and Chandrabose
S.S Rajmouli’s blockbuster “RRR” keeps breaking records, with its infectious song “Natu Natu” claiming the Best Original Song accolade at the Golden Globe 2023. The triumph did not end there, on March 12, the night before the 2023 Academy Awards, the same song clinched an Oscar in the same category.
Composers MM Keeravani and Chandrabose marked their victory by delivering a performance onstage. The Oscars 2023, known for spotlighting the cinema’s best and current trends, highlighted outstanding performances and innovative storytelling.
Oscar Awards 2024 Winner List
The 96th Academy Awards, held on March 11, 2024, celebrated excellence in filmmaking across various categories. “Oppenheimer” emerged as the night’s biggest winner, securing seven Oscars out of its 13 nominations. Here’s a comprehensive list of the winners:…
| Category | Winner | Film |
|---|---|---|
| Best Picture | “Oppenheimer” | |
| Best Actor in a Leading Role | Cillian Murphy | “Oppenheimer” |
| Best Actress in a Leading Role | Emma Stone | “Poor Things” |
| Best Director | Christopher Nolan | “Oppenheimer” |
| Best Supporting Actor | Robert Downey Jr. | “Oppenheimer” |
| Best Supporting Actress | Da’Vine Joy Randolph | “The Holdovers” |
| Best Adapted Screenplay | “American Fiction” | |
| Best Original Screenplay | “Anatomy of a Fall” | |
| Best Animated Feature Film | “The Boy and the Heron” | |
| Best Animated Short | “War is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko” | |
| Best International Feature | “The Zone of Interest” (United Kingdom) | |
| Best Documentary Feature | “20 Days in Mariupol” | |
| Best Documentary Short | “The Last Repair Shop” | |
| Best Original Score | Ludwig Goransson | “Oppenheimer” |
| Best Original Song | “What Was I Made For?” from “Barbie” | |
| Best Sound | “The Zone of Interest” | |
| Best Production Design | “Poor Things” | |
| Best Live Action Short | “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar” | |
| Best Cinematography | “Oppenheimer” | |
| Best Makeup and Hairstyling | “Poor Things” | |
| Best Costume Design | “Poor Things” | |
| Best Visual Effects | “Godzilla Minus One” | |
| Best Film Editing | Jennifer Lame | “Oppenheimer” |
FAQs
Q. What are Oscars?
Ans. The Oscar Awards commonly known as the Academy Awards represent the highest form of recognition in the global film industry. Every year, artists from various parts of the world have to compete for accolades in a wide array of categories.
Q. Who was Bhanu Athaiya and what award did she win at the Oscars?
Ans. Bhanu Athaiya was an Indian costume designer who won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design in 1983 for her exceptional work on the film “Gandhi.”
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