India has selected Eklavya - The Royal Guard as its official entry to the best foreign-language film category of the Oscars, marking the second time that a film from director Vidhu Vinod Chopra has been submitted.

In 1989, Chopra's Parinda was India's official entry to the Oscars. He had greater success in 1980 when his short non-fiction film, An Encounter With Faces, was nominated for an Oscar.

On the selection of his 2007 release, Chopra said: 'I'm elated by the news. But this is only the first battle. The real one is still ahead. I'm leaving for the US on October 2 to start my groundwork there. I'm banking on my previous experiences at the Academy and the overwhelming support the film has received in the West. I hope to make India proud.'

Oscar nominations are announced Jan 22.

Eklavya - The Royal Guard has already received accolades in Hollywood. The film got a standing ovation at the Billy Wilder Theater in UCLA, where it was recently screened as part of the India Splendour Film Festival. The film stars Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan, Vidya Balan, Raima Sen and Boman Irani and was shot in the northern Indian state of Rajasthan.

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