The Mother India (1957) movie is considered as the first Indian film to be nominated to the Academy award in the best foreign language film classification. This was nominated during the 30 th Academy Awards, in 1958.
This was a great milestone attained by the movie starring Nargis in a landmark role. The nomination was the initial formal acknowledgement by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of Indian cinema in the category.
Mother India was not the Oscar awarded in that year, and the award to the best film went to the Nights of Cabiria which was produced in Italy. Nevertheless, even the very fact of nomination is something to brag about to Indian cinema.
This was the first time that India had been able to enter the Best Foreign Language Film category contest. It made India its presence in the world cinema recognition at the summit decades prior to an Indian film serving the award.
Conclusion
The film "Mother India" became the first Oscar nomination of India in 1958 in the BF language film. It was not a victory but this nomination was the debut success of Indian films in the international arena. It proved that Indian films had a fighting chance on the international level before winning an Oscar.
