Amit Masurkar’s acclaimed black comedy Newton has been selected as India’s official submission for the Best Foreign Film language category at the 90th Academy Awards. Headed by Telugu producer CV Reddy, the selection committee of the Film Federation of India made the announcement on Friday.

Newton sees Rajkummar Rao as the titular presiding officer who is determined to hold elections in a Naxal-hit village in Chhattisgarh. Produced by Drishyam Films and distributed by Colour Yellow Productions and Eros International, the satire also stars Pankaj Tripathi, Anjali Patil and Raghubir Yadav. “Newton was chosen unanimously by the committee out of 26 entries” Reddy said. “Everyone in the committee liked it.”
For once, the selection committee seems to have done something right.

India has never won a Foreign Language Film Oscar. Twitter celebrated the decision, hoping Newton could break the jinx.