NEW DELHI, Nov 29: 'Jallikattu' is India's Oscar entry in the International Feature Film category at the 93rd Academy Awards, the Film Federation of India (FFI) announced on Thursday. The Malayalam feature film, the official entry, directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery, was chosen from a shortlist of 27 films.

Jallikattu is the third Malayalam film to be chosen as the country’s official entry for the Oscars. Earlier, Guru (1997) and Adaminte Makan Abu (2011) were selected. Mother India (1957), Salaam Bombay! (1988) and Lagaan (2001) are the Indian films to receive the award in the category from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. Last year's Indian entry was Zoya Akhtar’s Gully Boy.

The storyline is on the trail of a buffalo that escapes from the clutches of the butcher and runs helter skelter through the village and the villagers running after the animal. The movie is a portrayal of primitivism. “It’s a film which shows human instincts are worse than (that of) animals,” the FFI said.