Raja Sen: Ritesh Batra’s The Lunchbox is a remarkable film. A touching story of tiffins and timing, and of life and its lovely ironies. Wonderfully acted and written with restraint, it is by far the best Indian film this year. It will appeal to arthouse audiences everywhere.

Rajeev Masand: I think it should be The Lunchbox because it is such an intrinsically Indian story, and yet has such a universal appeal. Also because it is exquisitely written directed and performed.Such an incredibly moving film!”

Mayank Shekhar: Haven’t seen a film more artistic engaging introspective and ‘Indian’ than Anand Gandhi’s The Ship Of Theseus. Absolutely qualifies as World Cinema. The Film Federation may have to work around the fact that the movie is for a large part in English . If I am not mistaken the Academy accepts entries only in local languages of the country for the Foreign Films category.

Pritish Nandy: The Lunchbox, undoubtedly. The word is awaiting for it.

Aseem Chhabra: Looking at how people at the Telluride and Toronto film festivals have reacted to The Lunchbox, I think that film has a good chance of being nominated for the Oscars. It has all the right elements that would make it appeal to the Academy. I don’t have a crystal ball, and there many other good Indian films in 2013.But I think India’s chances appear stronger with The Lunchbox.

Karan Anshuman: I suppose our Oscar entry should be The Lunchbox. It has got all the right elements in place that the Academy looks for. It features an internationally recogniseable star Irrfan, and a good balance between Indie and commercial elements. The Ship Of Theseus is too Indie. The other films are too commercial. The Lunchbox makes no compromises. It has topnotch cinematography and production values, and a singular theme.