National Award-winning filmmaker Vinod Kapri has submitted his ₹2.5 crore Himalayan drama ‘Pyre’ for consideration at the 99th Academy Awards through the independent route, skipping India’s official selection process entirely. The film, which features two non-professional actors in their 70s and 80s, has already collected 18 international awards. Kapri’s decision puts ‘Pyre’ in the same Oscar race as India’s official entry ‘Gondhal’, but on a completely separate track.
What Kapri Actually Submitted and Why
Vinod Kapri confirmed on November 11, 2026, that ‘Pyre’ has been entered in the General Entry categories of the 99th Academy Awards through the Academy’s independent submission route . This is not the Best International Feature Film category, where India sends one official film each year. It is a different pathway that allows films to be considered across the general awards fields .
The filmmaker explained his reasoning in a statement to India Today. He said the choice was about principle, not strategy.
“We believe independent cinema deserves the opportunity to compete on its own merits. Our decision to pursue the Academy Awards through the applicable independent submission route is an extension of that belief. This is not just a journey for our film; it is also a journey for the many independent filmmakers who continue to tell stories against all odds.”
Kapri also spoke about the film’s unexpected journey from a small Himalayan village to the international festival circuit.
“We made Pyre independently, with complete faith in the story and the people who brought it to life. We never imagined that two ordinary people from a small Himalayan village would touch so many hearts across the world.”
The submission was first reported by multiple outlets on November 11, 2026, including the Indian Express, Hindustan Times, Outlook India, and India Today .
A ₹2.5 Crore Film With Two First-Time Actors
‘Pyre’ was made on a reported budget of ₹2.5 crore, a tiny sum by mainstream Indian film standards . The film stars Padam Singh Kapri, an 80-year-old retired Indian Army serviceman, and Heera Devi, a 70-year-old actor, both from Uttarakhand and both making their acting debuts . Padam plays a character named after himself, while Heera portrays Tulsi .
The story is set in a remote Himalayan village and follows Amma and Bubu, an elderly couple who have spent decades waiting for their only son to return home after he left in search of work . The film touches on ageing, loneliness, migration, and companionship .
Produced by Vinod Kapri, Suresh Joshi, and Arindra Rai Chaudhuri under Bhagirathi Films and Mashakbeen Studios, ‘Pyre’ has won 18 international awards, including 15 Best Film honours . Its festival run includes Tallinn Black Nights, São Paulo, Cambridge, London, Birmingham, and Stuttgart . The film had its world premiere at the 28th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival in 2024, where it won the Best Film PÖFF Audience Award .
The technical crew includes Academy Award-winning composer Mychael Danna, who won an Oscar in 2012 for Life of Pi .
The Ramayana Screen Cut Fight
The Oscar submission arrived just days after Kapri went public with a serious complaint about his film’s theatrical run. ‘Pyre’ released in Indian cinemas in Hindi on October 30, 2026 . Kapri said the film started with around 80 shows, then climbed to over 400 shows within two to four days because of positive word of mouth .
Everything changed after Namit Malhotra’s Ramayana, starring Ranbir Kapoor, released on November 5 . Kapri claimed that theatre owners and distributors were told to prioritise the bigger film.
“From the past two days, I can see that over 75% of our shows have been cut down. It has reduced to less than 100 shows. We are told by the theatre owners as well as distributors that they have been told that no other film will be screened.”
Reports from NDTV, Hindustan Times, and Mid-Day confirmed that Kapri’s allegation involved a loss of more than 75 per cent of ‘Pyre’ screenings, dropping from around 400 shows to fewer than 100 . The filmmaker shared his frustration on Instagram, saying he had to speak out because of helplessness .
‘Pyre’ is not the only Indian film taking an independent Oscar route this year. Namit Malhotra’s Ramayana has also been independently submitted for consideration at the 99th Academy Awards, alongside Theja Rio’s Konyak-language film Angh . Angh qualified for the Best International Feature Film category after winning the Platform Award at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival, under new Academy rules that recognise top festival honours .
Where ‘Pyre’ Sits in India’s Oscar Race
India’s official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards is Gondhal, a Marathi film directed by Santosh Davakhar . ‘Gondhal’ was selected by the Film Federation of India and will represent the country in the official category.
Kapri’s ‘Pyre’ is not competing with ‘Gondhal’ for that slot. The independent submission places ‘Pyre’ in the general awards field, where films can be considered for categories like Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and others, depending on the Academy’s rules and the film’s eligibility .
The Academy’s shortlist for the 99th Oscars will be announced on December 15, 2026 . Nominations voting runs from January 11 to January 15, 2027, and the nominations will be announced on January 21, 2027 . The 99th Oscars ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, March 14, 2027 .
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A Filmmaker Who Almost Quit
The Oscar submission marks a sharp turn from where Kapri was just weeks earlier. In an exclusive interview with Hindustan Times published on November 9, 2026, Kapri said he had almost quit filmmaking after ‘Pyre’ struggled to find a streaming platform and faced roadblocks in getting a theatrical release .
“My company bank account is only ₹7,000 and I don’t have a single penny to spend on this film anymore.”
He also recalled announcing his retirement from a stage at the Toronto International Film Festival after receiving an award, saying he was mentally, physically, and financially drained . The positive response from audiences in India changed his mind.
‘Pyre’ is now scheduled to release in Malayalam on December 11, 2026, expanding its reach beyond the Hindi theatrical run .
Stay with VvipTimes for clear, fact-checked coverage of the awards season and the films fighting for attention beyond the big-budget noise.
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