India has secured its position in Oscar history with notable triumphant victories at the 55th, 81st, and 95th and more on Academy Awards, across various categories, check the list of Movies that won an Oscar.
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 Oscar Award Winning Movies
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 on their movies.
Here is the list of movies that won an Oscar at the Academy Awards:
| Year | Nominee(s)/Recipient(s) | Film | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Bhanu Athaiya | Gandhi | Best Costume Design | Won |
| 2009 | Resul Pookutty | Slumdog Millionaire | Best Sound Mixing | Won |
| 2009 | Gulzar (Lyrics) | Slumdog Millionaire | Best Original Song (For Jai Ho) | Won |
| 2009 | A. R. Rahman (Music) | Slumdog Millionaire | Best Original Score | Won |
| 2009 | A. R. Rahman (Music) | Slumdog Millionaire | Best Original Song (For Jai Ho) | Won |
| 2023 | M. M. Keeravani (Music), Chandrabose (Lyrics) | RRR | Best Original Song (For Naatu Naatu) | Won |
| 2023 | Kartiki Gonsalves, Guneet Monga | The Elephant Whisperers | Best Documentary (Short Subject) | Won |
1. Gandhi – 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 Artists 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. Slumdog Millionaire- 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.
3. Slumdog Millionaire – 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.
4. Slumdog Millionaire – 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 Best 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 honored with Padma Bhushan in 2010 by the Government of India.
5. RRR – MM Keeravani and Chandrabose (Best Original Song)
S.S Rajmouli’s blockbuster “RRR” keeps breaking records, with its infectious song “Naatu Naatu” 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.
6. The Elephant Whisperers – 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.
List of Movies that Nominated at Oscars
| Year | Nominee(s)/Recipient(s) | Film | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | Mother India | Mother India | Best Foreign Language Film | Nominated |
| 1961 | Ismail Merchant | The Creation of Woman | Best Short Subject (Live Action) | Nominated |
| 1969 | Fali Bilimoria | The House That Ananda Built | Best Documentary (Short Subject) | Nominated |
| 1978 | Ishu Patel | Bead Game | Best Animated Short Film | Nominated |
| 1979 | K. K. Kapil | An Encounter with Faces | Best Documentary (Short Subject) | Nominated |
| 1983 | Ravi Shankar | Gandhi | Best Original Score | Nominated |
| 1987 | Ismail Merchant | A Room with a View | Best Picture | Nominated |
| 1989 | Salaam Bombay! | Salaam Bombay! | Best Foreign Language Film | Nominated |
| 1993 | Ismail Merchant | Howards End | Best Picture | Nominated |
| 1994 | Ismail Merchant | The Remains of the Day | Best Picture | Nominated |
| 2002 | Lagaan | Lagaan | Best Foreign Language Film | Nominated |
| 2005 | Ashvin Kumar | Little Terrorist | Best Short Subject (Live Action) | Nominated |
| 2009 | A. R. Rahman | Slumdog Millionaire | Best Original Song (For O… Saya) | Nominated |
| 2011 | 127 Hours | 127 Hours | Best Original Score | Nominated |
| 2011 | 127 Hours | 127 Hours | Best Original Song (For If I Rise) | Nominated |
| 2013 | Bombay Jayashri (Lyrics) | Life of Pi | Best Original Song (For Pi’s Lullaby) | Nominated |
| 2020 | Smriti Mundhra | St. Louis Superman | Best Documentary (Short Subject) | Nominated |
| 2022 | Rintu Thomas | Writing with Fire | Best Documentary Feature | Nominated |
| 2022 | Shaunak Sen, Aman Mann | All That Breathes | Best Documentary Feature | Nominated |
| 2024 | Nisha Pahuja | To Kill a Tiger | Best Documentary Feature Film | Nominated |
Oscar Awards 2024 Winner List
The 96th Academy Awards, held on March 11, 2024, celebrated excellence in filmmaking across various categories. Here’s a comprehensive list of the winners of 2024 Oscars.
| 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” |
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