It’s been confirmed that Soongava has been chosen to represent Nepal at the Oscars! That’s right, the Nepali movie about a relationship between a lesbian couple is competing for its chance to compete in the Best Foreign Movies category at the world’s most prestigious film awards.

Soongava beat Sanguro, Shirish ko Phool and Badhshala, that were lined up in the first step, in the race to participate in the 86th Academy Awards. The decision was made by Nepal Oscar Committee (NOC) led by Bimal Poudel along with Laxminath Sharma, Pradeep Upadhaya, Raju Bikram Thapa and Lokendra Parajuli as members.

The movie is yet to be selected for nomination in the Oscars. The movie now needs to go through the main selection committee in Oscars before it can participate in the awards ceremony to be held on March 2, 2014.

If ‘Soongava’ is selected, it will be the second movie to represent in the Awards. Last time, a movie made in Nepal by a foreign director ‘Caravan’ was nominated to the 72nd Oscars in 1999 for the Best Foreign Movies category.

The movie is directed by Subarna Thapa and features Nisha Adhikari and Diya Maskey in lead role. Other actors in the movie include Saugat Malla, Laxmi Giri and Basundhara Bhusal.

Actress Adhikari expressed her happiness about the news and how the year 2013 has been fortunate for her in her Facebook page, “Soongava is representing Nepal to the “OSCARS”. Confirmed! Nepal is participating after 6 years!!! 2013 has been a blessed year for me…safe everest expedition…n now…soongava making It’s way to the most coveted platform for film-makers and actors. I would like to thank all my well-wishers and critics alike without whom this would be impossible. Thank you for being there and believing! — feeling blessed. (sic)”