Thriller on police brutality chosen as official Indian entry to Best Foreign Language Film.

Visaranai, the Tamil docu-drama crime thriller, has been chosen India’s official entry to Best Foreign Language Film category at the 89th Academy Awards to be held in 2017.

The national award-winning film, directed by Vetrimaran, and produced by actor Dhanush’s Wunderbar Films, documents four migrant workers who suffer police brutality and corruption after being jailed on false charges.

Part of the film is based on true events recorded in novel Lock Up, written by M. Chandrakumar, an autorickshaw driver from Coimbatore.

Dhanush said it was a proud and joyous moment for his production house and director Vetrimaran. He praised the cast and crew of the film as ‘fantastic.’ The last Tamil movie that made it to the list as official entry to the Oscars was Hey Ram, directed by, and starring Kamal Haasan. The film was simultaneously made in Hindi in 2000.

Mr. Vetrimaran told The Hindu that he was extremely happy and the news was a pleasant surprise. “The movie continues to be very relevant. We are now preparing for the next step, and hope the film will earn a nomination,” he said. The film’s chances will be known in January.

Visaranai, starring Dinesh Ravi, Samuthirakani, Kishore, Ajay Ghosh, Anandhi and Aadukalam Murugadoss, premiered at the Venice International Film festival in 2015 and had a theatrical release in February 2016.

Watch the trailer here: