Actor Aamir Khan's debut directorial venture Taare Zameen Par, a sensitive story of an eight-year-old dyslexic child, was selected as India's entry to the foreign language category for Oscars at the 81st annual Academy awards.
This was announced by filmmaker Suneel Darshan, who headed the film federation of India jury to select the film in Mumbai on Friday.
Aamir expressed happiness over his film being selected.
"It is a film that is extremely close to my heart. It first sensitised me as a parent and as a person and then went on to have the same effect on the audiences in India and across the globe," Aamir, who is shooting in Ladakh for Raj Kumar Hirani's 3 Idiots, said.
"I hope that it has an equally strong impact on the members of the academy as well," Aamir added.
Taare Zameen Par written by Amole Gupte was released in 2007 and has received critical and box-office acclaim.
Other films in fray for selection were critically acclaimed Marathi films Valu and Tingya, Nishikant Kamat's Mumbai Meri Jaan, Neeraj Pandey's A Wednesday, Ashutosh Gowarikar's Jodhaa Akbar, Farhan Akhtar's Rock On, Subhash Ghai's Black and White and the Telugu film Ghanyam.
This will be Aamir's second outing at the Oscars. His first home production Lagaan reached the final nomination list of the foreign film category in 2001.
The awards ceremony will be held on February 22, 2009.
Darshan said the committee members were unanimous in their decision to chose Taare Zameen Par.
"It was a difficult choice as all the remaining eight films were extremely good. TZP was favoured because of its universal theme," he added.
Darshan said Marathi films Valu and Tingya were highly praised by the committee for their excellent screenplay and treatment.
Marathi filmmakers Mahesh Kothare, Ajay Sarpotdar, art director Bijon Das Gupta, filmmaker Aruna Raje, Ravi Kottarakara from Chennai were other prominent members of the jury, he said.
