Marathi film 'Gondhal' beats 'Dhurandhar', 32 others to become India's Oscars 2027 pick
Santosh Davakhar's debut film is now the fourth Marathi film to be nominated by India for the Oscars after 'Shwaas' (2005), 'Harishchandrachi Factory' (2009) and 'Court' (2015)
Santosh Davakhar's debut film is now the fourth Marathi film to be nominated by India for the Oscars after 'Shwaas' (2005), 'Harishchandrachi Factory' (2009) and 'Court' (2015).
Santosh Davakhar's debut film is now the fourth Marathi film to be nominated by India for the Oscars after 'Shwaas' (2005), 'Harishchandrachi Factory' (2009) and 'Court' (2015).
Santosh Davakhar's debut film is now the fourth Marathi film to be nominated by India for the Oscars after 'Shwaas' (2005), 'Harishchandrachi Factory' (2009) and 'Court' (2015).
Gondhal, a psychological and cultural thriller from Maharashtra, has been selected as India's official entry for the Oscars 2027, beating Dhurandhar and 32 other films to bag this honour.
Written and directed by social activist and debutante filmmaker Santosh Davakhar, the film has also beaten the likes of Dhurandhar: The Revenge, Hanuman Ansh, Bison Kaalamaadan, Ikkis, Main Vapas Aaunga, and others nominated by the Film Federation of India to enter the Academy's International Feature Film selection process.
After this, the Academy will first announce a 15-film shortlist before the final five nominees for this category are selected.
The 99th Academy Awards are scheduled to be held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, on March 14, 2027.
What is the film about?
Starring Kishor Kadam, Ishita Deshmukh, Yogesh Sohoni, Nishad Bhoir and Anuj Prabhu, Gondhal is set around a traditional Maharashtrian ritual of the same name—a night-long folk performance blending music, dance and mythology.
However, the word itself is colloquially used to mean 'confusion' or 'commotion', with the film blending the two meanings.
The plot features one of the protagonists Suman, who is trapped in a wealthy marriage and becomes involved with Saheba, a charismatic Gondhali performer. The film, set over the course of her attempt to escape, leads to manipulation, deception, and a murder plot involving her husband's cousin.
Notably, it does not just use the ritual as a prop, as Gondhal is very much interwoven into the narrative.
The film also features veteran composer Ilaiyaraaja as its music composer, as per Central Board of Film Certification's (CBFC) official film record.
Gondhal is now the fourth Marathi film to be nominated for the Oscars after Shwaas (2005), Harishchandrachi Factory (2009) and Court (2015), and also succeeds Neeraj Ghaywan's Homebound, which had been India's official entry for the Oscars last year.
Davakhar's debut film had its world premiere at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa in 2025, under the Indian Panorama segment. He was awarded the Silver Peacock for Best Director at the festival.