Malayalam short film Death Offers Life' shortlisted for Oscar nomination

Kochi: India's official nomination for the Oscars short movie category might have a Malayali director's name to it this year. Saheer Abbas-directed ‘Death Offers Life, last moments of Vincent Van Gogh’ has been shortlisted for the official nomination list of the Oscar Academy Awards 2021.

The film is Abbas' debutant attempt at short movie direction. “We are excited over the chance of getting nominated and the possibility of winning the Oscar awards. The movie has been screened in many international venues and the responses were overwhelming,” said Abbas. Shot in the regional Malayalam and subtitled in English, Spanish, French and Italian, the short film has already won more than 450 international awards from 28 countries.

Made by a group of talented young artists from Kerala, the 8-minute movie portrays the final moments of Vincent Van Gogh, the legendary artist who was got his much-deserved fame only after his death. The movie, fully shot in candlelight, is a dialogue between Van Gogh and personified Death. Newcomer Rashin Khan plays the role of Vincent while Anuroop Thekkumkadan plays Death. The film is penned by Madhu NR is produced by NANR Productions. Music is done by Arun Gopan and cinematography by Noushad Shereef.

The voting for Oscar nominations will begin on December 10 and will be on till December 21. A total of 15 films will be nominated for Academy Awards.

Saheer Abbas, hailing from Kochi has been working as choreographer and associate director in the Malayalam movie industry for the past 19 years. He was the assistant director of Anoop Menon starrer 10 Kalpanakal directed by Don Max.

The chance to get listed in Oscar nominations came as a double treat for Abbas as he is eagerly waiting for the release of his debut directorial venture Whine, starring Anu Mol and Rahul Madhav.