The announcement was made on Thursday. 

Based on the novel "Lock Up" by auto-rickshaw driver-turned-writer M. Chandrakumar, the film is about organised crime within the police force. It also throws the spotlight on police brutality. "Visaranai", helmed by filmmaker Vetrimaaran, stars Dinesh, Samuthirakani, Ajay Ghosh and Kishore. 

"Visaranai" was produced by Dhanush, who had released the film under his home banner Wunderbar Films. The film earned critical acclaim earlier last year when it had its world premiere at Venice International Film Festival. It also won National Film Awards.

Dhanush released a statement after the announcement, expressing his gratitude. 

The statement read: "Good evening everybody. This is just turning out to be a glorious day. After the super positive initial reports for 'Thodari' now 'Visaranai' has been selected as the official entry to Oscars from India. Proud moment for Wunderbar Films and Vetrimaaran. Dream big."

It is the ninth Tamil film to have been chosen as a hopeful to bring the Oscar statuette to India. Kamal Haasan's "Hey Ram" (released in 2000) was the last film in the language to compete.

Last year, India put Marathi film "Court" in the Oscar race. "Mother India", "Salaam Bombay!" and "Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India" are the only Indian films that made it to the top five in the Best Foreign Language Film category at the Academy Awards. 

Dhanush added: "My sincere thanks to all those who believed in me and my production house. I would like to thank the fantastic cast of 'Visaranai', Dinesh, Samuthirakani, Kishore. And I would also like to thank the pillar of Wunderbar Films, my executive producer S.Vinod.

"My thanks to the crew, press, media, well wishers, my fans and cinema lovers, each and every one of you who watch movies in theatres from the bottom of my heart. It's a joyous moment for all of us. God bless, spread love."

The film is expected to release soon as "Vicharana" in Telugu.