The Hindi-language international co-production Santosh has achieved a major milestone by being shortlisted for the Best International Feature Film category at the 97th Academy Awards. Directed by Sandhya Suri and set in rural northern India, the film highlights powerful themes of resilience and social justice.

Actor Shahana Goswami, who plays the lead role, expressed her joy on Instagram, calling the recognition a “little glory” for the team. “"Thrilled for our team, especially our brilliant writer-director Sandhya Suri, for this recognition of Santosh! Being shortlisted from 85 incredible films is truly amazing. Grateful to everyone who supported, loved, and voted for our film," she shared.

The movie stars Goswami as a determined widow who steps into her late husband's role as a police constable through a government program. As she takes on systemic corruption, she works closely with Inspector Sharma, portrayed by Sunita Rajwar, to investigate the brutal murder of a Dalit teenage girl.

Fans and industry peers flooded the comments section of Shahana's post with congratulatory messages. One wrote, “Heartiest congratulations, and may there be many, many more coming,” while another commented, “Wowowow congrats!! Truly deserving.”

This recognition adds to the film's already impressive journey. Selected by the United Kingdom as its official entry for the Academy Awards, Santosh premiered at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in May 2024, earning rave reviews from critics.

The Best International Feature Film category’s shortlist comprises 15 films from a total of 85 submissions by countries worldwide. While Santosh celebrated its place on the list, India's official entry, Laapataa Ladies, did not make the cut. However, Indian cinema received a silver lining as Guneet Monga Kapoor’s Anuja gained a spot in the Live-Action Short Film category.

With the Oscars 2025 approaching, Santosh continues to win hearts globally, marking a proud moment for Hindi cinema on the international stage.