Girish Malik's 'Mahamantra' that premieres at IFFI Goa 2025 makes first Oscar shortlist

Filmmaker Girish Malik’s latest docu-drama, Mahamantra: The Great Chant, has been named in the first shortlist for the 98th Academy Awards in the Documentary Feature category, coinciding with its world premiere as a Special Showcaseat IFFI Goa 2025.

An Oscar first shortlist is a list of entries that have advanced from the initial submission and qualifying rounds, and have passed the first stage of consideration.

The 75-minute English-language film, will be showcased tomorrow as a Special Showcase at the International Film Festival of India.

Crafted over years marked by global turbulence — from pandemics and war to climate anxiety and social upheaval — Mahamantra is described by its makers as a cinematic meditation for a world grappling with meaning and purpose.

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Earlier, Malik’s debut film JAL (2014) competed at the Busan Film Festival, won a National Award, and made it to the Oscar contention list. His 2024 release Band of Maharajas also advanced in two Oscar categories after featuring in the 97th Academy Awards’ Best Picture Reminder List.

The film features narration by Brigadier Dr. Arvind Lal (Padma Shri), music composed by Grammy-nominee Bickram Ghosh, and vocals by Padma Shri-awardee Shubha Mudgal. Several other renowned contributors to the project include Vedic scholar Sri Swami Svatmananda, Dr. Rajeshwar Mukherjee, Professor of Vedic Science and Theoretical Physics at Nalanda University, and philosopher-philanthropist Gupta Kaushik.