Nominations for the 90th Academy Awards are out, and its YUGE! As unrelenting as 2017 was, it gave us many peak films and performances. Two Indian actors have made it to the list with their film nominations and we, are, psyched! Actor Ali Fazal-starrer Brit film 'Victoria & Abdul' has won two nominations, while Anupam Kher's 'The Big Sick' has its name possibly written on one.
A film about the unique bond between Queen Victoria and her Indian-Muslim servant Abdul Karim, 'Victoria & Abdul' is nominated in the categories of Best Costume Design and Make-Up and Hairstyling. Fazal played a critically warm Abdul to Dame Judi Bench's Victoria, in the film. Kher-starrer 'The Big Sick' is nominated for the Writing honour for Pakistan-origin Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V Gordon. Unfortunately, India's official entry for the Foreign Language Film Category, 'Newton' failed to make the cut to the shortlist early in the selection process.
Guillermo del Toro's 'The Shape of Water' won the highest number of nominations, contending in 13 categories including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Cinematography, Costume Design, Film Editing, Music- Original Score, Production Design, Sound Editing, and Sound Mixing. This is the tenth film to earn thirteen nominatoins in Oscar history. The current record of 14 is held by 'All About Eve' (1950), 'Titanic' (1997), 'La La Land' (2016).
The nominations were announced by actress-comedian Tiffany Haddish and actor-director Andy Serkis, along with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President John Bailey, through a global-live stream. Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra participated in pre-taped category introductions.
