/> If a Hindi language film being sent as Canada's official entry to the Oscars wasn't weird enough then check this out.

Out of the 61 entries, Deepa Mehta's Water was selected on Tuesday night as one of the nine films shortlisted for an Oscar in the Best Foreign Language Category. The only Indian/Hindi films to have made it into the prestigious category are Mehboob Khan's Mother India and Ashutosh Gowariker's Lagaan.

Departing from the usual 5 nominations this year the Academy has chosen 9 films. Water finds its luminous level with such masterpieces at the Oscars this year as the Algerian film Days Of Glory, the Danish After The Wedding, the French Avenue Montaigne, the German Lives Of Others, the Mexican Pan's Labyrinth, the Dutch Black Book, the Spanish Volver and the Swiss Vitus.

At 5 a.m in the morning in Toronto, Deepa is stunned by the news. "I can't believe that a film which was shunned by a section of the Indian politicians and all but ripped apart six years ago has come so far! The competition this year is really really tough.

I've never seen a wider and more prestigious variety of films from across the world being nominated for the foreign-language category. They're all super-brilliant films and I'm deeply honoured to be in such august company. I can't believe Water has come so far! Now maybe, just maybe, we will win the Oscar."

Deepa's only regret is that one of her favourite films got left out. "I so love the energy and audacity of Rang De Basanti. I really wanted it to be in the nominations. But I suppose two Hindi films, even if they were representing two different countries were out of the question."

Deepa has been told that Water is being released in India on Feb 23. "That's what my producer, the gracious Mr Ravi Chopra has told me. He said the clutter of releases before that was too large. I've my fingers crossed."