Pan Nalin’s much-loved coming-of-age Gujarati language drama Last Film Show (Chhello Show) is in the news for being shortlisted in the Best International Feature Film category at the 95th Academy Awards. As the Oscar fever builds up, the film has now emerged as an odds-on favourite and is being seen as a top contender for the nominations. After Priyanka Chopra lent her support for the film and hosted a screening for Academy members in Los Angeles, Variety’s renowned Awards Editor and Senior Vice President Tim Gray has listed the filmamong his top 5 predictions for the Oscar nominations.
Lead actor 13 year old Bhavin Rabari is creating ripples too and it is because the film tells the story of a cinema-obsessed boy, Samay (Bhavin Rabari), in rural Gujarat and his coming of age as he moves forward to realise his dreams. The film is inspired by director Pan Nalin’s own childhood and his friendship with a local projectionist and has been praised by critics worldwide ever since it had its premiere at the TriBeCa film festival.
Produced by Siddharth Roy Kapur Dheer Momaya and Pan Nalin and released by Samuel Goldwyn Films in the US and by Roy Kapur Films in India, Orange Studios is releasing the film in France, while Shochiku Studios and Medusa are bringing it to Japanese and Italian cinemas respectively.