Indian parliamentarian Shashi Tharoor reacted to the submission on social media calling it “utterly astonishing” for the UK to send a Hindi-language film with an Indian cast. Filmmakers, including Leena Manimekalai, have praised the film, with Manimekalai expressing how deeply moved she was by the emotions conveyed in Santosh. The film has already made waves after its Cannes Film Festival premiere earlier this year.