MUMBAI: Blockbuster Rang De Basanti has been voted out of the 2007 Oscars, the producers said on Wednesday.

The Hindi-language film, released in January last year, was India's entry in the foreign film category.

"It was an honour for Rang De Basanti to compete with some great international films that are up for the running at the Oscars this year," UTV, an entertainment company, which produced the film, said in a statement.

"The biggest reward has been the impact the movie has had on the youth of India and elsewhere."

Starring Aamir Khan, this was his second film to make it as India's entry to the Oscars in the best foreign film category. The first was Lagaan, which entered the final round in 2002 but eventually lost. An Indian film is yet to win the top prize in the foreign film category, though a few have made it to the last five. Laagan had made it to the final five in foreign film category in 2002, when a Bosnian movie had eventually won the coveted prize.

However, Indians and fans of Indian cinema alike still have something to cheer about as Canada's official entry Water, directed by India-born Deepa Mehta and starring John Abraham and Lisa Ray, has made it to the shortlist of nine films for next month's 79th edition of the awards.

Rarely have Indian films made the final round of the Oscars, let alone win the award, though Indian director Satyajit Ray, renowned for his art-house films, was bestowed the Lifetime Achievement award in 1992.