Movie lovers in India have plenty to cheer about this weekend. Well-known director Nila Madhab Panda has entered his Odia film Kalira Atita (Yesterday's Past) for the Oscars this year under multiple categories.

The categories under which the film has joined are Best Actor, Best Director, and a few other categories.

In his tweet, Panda sharing the news with everyone, said: "In a year full of challenges, feel extremely happy to announce #KaliraAtita has made its entry into the Oscar race in general entry category 4 best picture, Best Actor, Best Director & many other categories. It's being made available for academy screening, Grateful to everyone folded hands.”

The film is about the disappearing villages of India's eastern coastline in Odisha because of climate change and rising sea levels. The story is about a disillusioned young man, who has survived a cyclone, and is yet to experience another one. The film sensitively deals with human fears, uncertainty of life, and human triumph over everything. The film was earlier screened in the International Film Festival of India 2020 last month and garnered huge appreciations. Popular actor Pitobash Tripathy plays the protagonist in the film.

The movie is made available at the Academy Screening Room onwards and will be viewed by the academy members for votes and nominations.

The film was earlier screened at the Indian Panorama section of the ongoing 51st International Film Festival of India in Goa.

Panda’s documentary, God’s Own People in 2016, which was narrated by Amitabh Bachchan, is based on the reincarnation of Lord Jagannath. In another documentary, he dealt with 62 tribes of Odisha.