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Santosh Davakhar’s Gondhal Takes Marathi Cinema To Hollywood. (Img: Dynamite News)
Mumbai: After a closely watched selection process featuring 33 films from across India, Marathi thriller Gondhal has emerged as the country’s official entry for the Oscars 2027.
The Santosh Davakhar directorial will represent India in the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards after being selected by the Film Federation of India.
The announcement has created excitement in the film industry as Gondhal brings together Maharashtra’s traditional folk culture, psychological drama and a powerful human story.
From a rural Maharashtra setting to the international spotlight of Hollywood, the film’s Oscar journey marks another major moment for regional Indian cinema.
The road to the Oscars was highly competitive this year, with 33 films competing for the honour of representing India at the Academy Awards. The selection process included movies from different languages and regions, reflecting the diversity of Indian cinema.
The final decision was taken by the Film Federation of India after evaluation by a 13-member jury panel headed by filmmaker P Sheshadri. The shortlisted films represented various cinematic styles, languages and storytelling traditions, but Gondhal was selected for its unique narrative approach and strong cultural foundation.
Directed and written by Santosh Davakhar, Gondhal is a psychological thriller deeply rooted in Maharashtra’s traditional Gondhal folk performance.
The film uses the centuries-old ritual not only as a cultural backdrop but also as an important part of its storytelling. The plot revolves around Suman, played by Ishita Deshmukh, whose life takes an unexpected turn after marriage.
As personal relationships become complicated, the story explores themes of emotional conflict, betrayal, desire, jealousy and survival. The traditional music, rituals and atmosphere of rural Maharashtra become central elements in building the film’s suspense and emotional depth.
One of the biggest attractions of Gondhal is its connection with local culture and universal human emotions. The film showcases a traditional Maharashtrian folk form that has existed for generations while presenting a modern story of relationships and personal struggles.
The selection has highlighted how regional stories from India are increasingly finding recognition beyond mainstream cinema. For Marathi cinema, Gondhal represents another opportunity to showcase the richness of local storytelling on a global platform.
Before earning the Oscar entry, Gondhal had already created a strong impression at several major film festivals. Santosh Davakhar won the Silver Peacock Award for Best Director at the 56th International Film Festival of India for the film.
The movie also received the FIPRESCI Award at the Bengaluru International Film Festival. Gondhal earned further recognition at the Pune International Film Festival, where it received honours for direction and cinematography.
Davakhar was also recognised for his filmmaking at the Third Eye Asian International Film Festival. These achievements strengthened the film’s position during the Oscar selection process.
Gondhal features Ishita Deshmukh, Kishor Kadam, Yogesh Sohoni and Nishad Bhoir in important roles. The film also stars Suresh Vishwakarma, Anuj Prabhu and other supporting actors.
Santosh Davakhar has written and directed the movie, while Amalendu Chaudhary handled cinematography and Ashish Mhatre worked as the editor. The film’s music has been composed by legendary musician Ilaiyaraaja, adding further recognition to the project. The production has been backed by Davakhar Films.
Gondhal has created a special milestone for Marathi cinema by becoming only the fourth Marathi film to be selected as India’s official Oscar entry. Earlier, Marathi films Shwaas, Harishchandrachi Factory and Court represented India at the Academy Awards.
The achievement underlines the growing importance of regional cinema in India’s international film journey. It also reflects the changing landscape of Indian filmmaking, where stories from different languages are gaining worldwide attention.
Gondhal’s selection as India’s official entry does not guarantee a nomination at the Academy Awards. The film will now compete in the international selection process along with submissions from other countries.
The Academy is expected to announce the shortlist on December 15, 2026. The final nominations are scheduled to be announced on January 21, 2027. The 99th Academy Awards ceremony will take place on March 14, 2027, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
The makers of Gondhal will now begin the international Oscar campaign, including screenings, promotions and industry outreach. The film will attempt to secure a place among the final shortlisted movies in the Best International Feature Film category.
While the Oscar race is still ahead, Gondhal has already achieved a major milestone by becoming India’s official representative and bringing Marathi cinema into global focus.
