Marathi cinema is heading back to the global awards stage.
Gondhal, the Marathi psychological thriller written and directed by Santosh Davakhar, has been selected as India’s official entry for the 99th Academy Awards, scheduled for 2027.
The Film Federation of India (FFI) announced the selection on September 18, choosing Gondhal from a field of 33 films across multiple Indian languages. The film will now represent India in the Best International Feature Film category.
The selection does not mean Gondhal has received an Oscar nomination. It now enters the international submission process, from which the Academy will determine its shortlist and, subsequently, the final nominees.
‘Gondhal’ Chosen From 33 Indian Films
The Film Federation of India’s selection committee evaluated 33 films over 10 days before choosing Gondhal.
According to selection committee chairperson P Sheshadri, the entries included 14 Hindi films and four Marathi films, alongside movies in several other Indian languages.
Sheshadri said:
“It’s a happy moment for Indian cinema, for Marathi cinema. This time the official entry is ‘Gondhal’.”
He said Angh and Ikkis were also among the top three films considered by the committee.
The wider field included prominent titles such as Dhurandhar, Dhurandhar: The Revenge, Haq, Hanuman Ansh, Border 2, Main Vaapas Aaunga, Peddi and 120 Bahadur.
Why Was ‘Gondhal’ Selected?
According to Sheshadri, the committee considered factors including Indian culture and ethos, filmmaking, music, performances and the human story presented on screen.
Gondhal is deeply rooted in Maharashtra’s traditional folk culture and uses the centuries-old Gondhal ritual as a central element of its narrative.
Sheshadri said the film stood out under the committee’s criteria because of its cultural representation as well as its filmmaking, music and performances.
The choice therefore places a distinctly regional story at the centre of India’s latest attempt to reach the Academy Awards’ International Feature Film shortlist.
What Is ‘Gondhal’ About?
Set in rural Maharashtra, Gondhal unfolds over the course of a night against the backdrop of the traditional Gondhal ritual.
The psychological thriller follows Suman, a woman trapped in an oppressive marriage, whose desire to escape leads her towards a dangerous plan involving her forbidden lover.
The story combines relationships, deception and personal ambition with the music, spirituality and performance traditions associated with Gondhal.
Rather than treating the folk tradition merely as a visual backdrop, the film incorporates the ritual into the atmosphere and structure of its story.
Who Stars in ‘Gondhal’?
Ishita Deshmukh plays the lead role in the film.
The cast also includes:
Kishor Kadam
Yogesh Sohani
Nishad Bhoir
Anuj Prabhu
Dhru Thoke
Veteran composer Ilaiyaraaja has composed the film’s music, adding another prominent name to the project.
Santosh Davakhar Already Won at IFFI
Gondhal arrives in the Oscar race after receiving recognition on the Indian festival circuit.
The film had its world premiere at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa in 2025 as part of the Indian Panorama section.
Santosh Davakhar subsequently received the Silver Peacock for Best Director at IFFI for his work on the film.
That recognition gave Gondhal an established festival profile before its selection as India’s Oscar submission.
Santosh Davakhar Reacts to Oscar Selection
Davakhar has described representing India as both an honour and a responsibility.
Speaking about the selection, he said:
“I am proud that my film will represent India.”
The filmmaker said his team has developed a plan for the coming months to promote the film internationally as it moves through the Academy Awards process.
He also compared the emotion of representing India at the Oscars with watching Indian athletes compete at the Olympics, describing the selection as recognition not just for one movie but also for Indian culture and Maharashtra’s folk traditions.
Fourth Marathi Film Chosen as India’s Oscar Entry
Gondhal becomes the fourth Marathi film selected as India’s official submission in the International Feature Film category.
The previous Marathi selections were:
Shwaas — 2005
Directed by Sandeep Sawant, the film became one of the most significant Marathi films of its period and represented India at the Academy Awards.
Harishchandrachi Factory — 2009
Paresh Mokashi’s film about Dadasaheb Phalke and the making of India’s first full-length feature film was selected as India’s submission.
Court — 2015
Chaitanya Tamhane’s internationally acclaimed courtroom drama became India’s official Oscar entry after an extensive festival run.
More than a decade after Court, Gondhal now gives Marathi cinema another opportunity in the International Feature Film race.
India’s Long Wait in the International Feature Category
India has never won the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film, the category previously known as Best Foreign Language Film.
Only three films submitted by India have reached the final nominations:
Mother India, directed by Mehboob Khan;
Salaam Bombay!, directed by Mira Nair; and
Lagaan, directed by Ashutosh Gowariker.
Deepa Mehta’s Water also earned a nomination in the category, but it represented Canada rather than India.
India’s submission for the previous Academy Awards was Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound, which did not ultimately secure a final nomination.
What Happens to ‘Gondhal’ Next?
Being selected by the Film Federation of India is only the first major step in the Oscar process.
Gondhal will now compete with official submissions from countries around the world for a place on the Academy’s Best International Feature Film shortlist.
The Academy is expected to announce the shortlist in December 2026, followed by the final Oscar nominations in January 2027.
That distinction is important: Gondhal is currently India’s official entry, not an Oscar nominee.
If it progresses through the next stages, it would move closer to joining the small group of Indian submissions that have reached the final nominations.
When Are the Oscars 2027?
The 99th Academy Awards are scheduled for Sunday, March 14, 2027, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
Before then, the immediate challenge for the Gondhal team will be building international visibility and ensuring the film reaches Academy voters during the campaign period.
The filmmakers are also planning a wider release strategy following the film’s festival recognition and Oscar selection.
Why ‘Gondhal’s’ Selection Matters
The selection gives Marathi cinema renewed representation in one of the world’s most closely watched film awards.
It also brings a culturally specific story to the international stage. Instead of separating its thriller narrative from its regional identity, Gondhal places Maharashtra’s folk traditions at the heart of its cinematic world.
Its IFFI recognition, Ilaiyaraaja’s music and the Film Federation of India’s selection provide the film with momentum heading into the international campaign.
But the next stage is significantly more competitive.
Gondhal must now move from being India’s chosen submission to earning recognition from Academy voters—a journey that begins with making the International Feature Film shortlist.
