“Happy To Receive Such Recognition From The Academy”, Says ‘Band Of Maharajas’ Director Girish Malik On His Film Making It To Oscars Reminder List

As the excitement around the 2025 Oscars builds, cinephiles are particularly eager for March, when one of the most prestigious events in the film industry will unfold. This year, Indian films are also making their presence felt at the Oscars, with a few contenders vying for recognition across several important categories.

One such film that has garnered significant attention is Girish Malik’s ‘Band of Maharajas’, which has been included in the Academy’s “reminder list”. This list, released by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, comprises films that will now undergo voting by Oscar members, offering them a chance at securing a nomination.

Girish Malik expressed his happiness over the recognition, acknowledging how significant it is to make it this far in the competitive race. “I am very thrilled. Yahan tak pahuchna hi badi baat hai (It’s a big thing to reach here and receive this kind of validation from Oscars). I know it’s not an easy journey… there are so many films competing against each other. Fingers crossed. Let’s see what happens next,” he shared.

The film’s producer Puneet Singh and actor Navraj Hans also expressed their excitement, with Navraj commenting, “We all are extremely happy.” Puneet added, “Girish is an extraordinary talent and a cherished friend. I have always believed in the stories he tells through his films. We are ecstatic that ‘Band of Maharajas’ is finally getting the recognition it deserves and is now featured on the Academy’s website.”

‘Band of Maharajas’ is a musical that explores the profound theme of how music transcends borders and unites diverse cultures. The film is now eligible for the Best Picture category at the Oscars, alongside other notable Indian films such as Aadujeevitham: The Goat Life, Girls will be Girls, Santosh, All We Imagine as Light, Putul, and Swatantriya Veer Savarkar.

While being included on the reminder list is a positive step, it’s important to note that it does not guarantee a nomination. Films featured in this list will still be subject to voting by the Academy members, and only those who secure enough votes will advance to the final nominations for the prestigious categories.

In related news, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has extended the Oscar nomination voting window due to the deadly wildfires in Los Angeles. Originally set to close on January 12, the voting window for the nearly 10,000 Academy members has now been extended to January 14, according to Variety. As a result, the nominations announcement, which was initially scheduled for January 17, has been delayed to January 19.

With ‘Band of Maharajas’ and other Indian films now in the running, the Oscars in March 2025 promise to be an exciting event for film lovers around the world, with India’s cinematic contributions gaining more and more attention.