Guneet Monga joins India’s Oscar entry Jallikattu as executive producer

Guneet Monga says she is blown away by Jallikattu. (Photo: Guneet Monga/Twitter, FridayFilmHouse)

Filmmaker Guneet Monga says she is honoured to come on board Jallikattu, India’s official entry in the International Feature Film category at the 93rd Academy Awards, as an executive producer.

Directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery, the Malayalam feature follows a tribe of men coming together to stop a bull that has run amok in their village.

Monga, known for backing films like Gangs of Wasseypur series, Masaan and The Lunchbox, took to social media to share the news, writing she was thrilled to join the team ahead of its journey at the Oscars.

It’s an absolute honour to join team Jallikattu on its Oscar journey.

Jallikattu blew my mind, it’s a high octane masterpiece!!

Lijo @mrinvicible you’re phenomenal

Let’s do this ✨ #Jallikattu @glutking #Thomas

Thank you @namanrs @Noblebrother100 https://t.co/ZyM8SPyq6Z

— Guneet Monga (@guneetm) December 12, 2020

“It’s an absolute honour to join team Jallikattu on its Oscar journey. Jallikattu blew my mind, it’s a high octane masterpiece! Lijo, you’re phenomenal. Let’s do this,” the producer tweeted.

Last year, Period. End of Sentence, the 2018 short film on menstruation co-produced by Monga, won the Oscar in the Documentary Short Subject category.

Jallikattu, which derives its name from the popular-yet-controversial bull-taming event in south India, is based on a short story by Hareesh.

The film features actors Antony Varghese, Chemban Vinod Jose, Sabumon Abdusamad and Santhy Balachandran. Jallikattu had its premiere in September 2019 at the Toronto International Film Festival and received widespread critical acclaim.