Iman Chakraborty and Bickram Ghosh's songs spark buzz in the 2025 Oscars best original song race

The 2025 Oscar nominations have stirred excitement, especially for Indian cinema, with Kiran Rao's Laapata Ladies selected as the country’s official entry. Adding to the fervor, speculation is rife about two Indian songs competing in the Best Original Song category.
Among them is Iti Maa from Indira Dhar Mukkherjee’s Bengali film Putul. Sung by Iman Chakraborty and composed by Sayan Ganguly, the song debuted on Children’s Day as a heartfelt anthem dedicated to street children, resonating with its poignant theme. The second track generating buzz is Ishq Walla Daqu from Girish Malik’s Band of Maharajas. Composed by renowned percussionist Bickram Ghosh, the song marks yet another remarkable collaboration between Ghosh and Malik, following their work on the film Jal.
While official confirmation of the final nominations is awaited, the possibility of two Indian songs vying for Oscar recognition has already electrified social media. Sharing her joy, Iman Chakraborty said, “Iti Maa has made it to the list of 79 songs as the only Bengali entry. This feels surreal. I’m deeply grateful to our music director, Sayan, and film director for entrusting me with this opportunity.”