Marathi thriller Gondhal, written and directed by Santosh Davakhar, has been selected as India’s official entry for the 99th Academy Awards, scheduled to take place in March 2027. The Film Federation of India (FFI) announced the selection on September 18, 2026, choosing the film from a field of 33 submissions.
The film will compete for a place in the Best International Feature Film category at the Oscars. The selection marks another significant moment for Marathi cinema, with Gondhal becoming the fourth Marathi film to represent India in the category, following Shwaas, Harishchandrachi Factory and Court.
What Is Gondhal About?
Set in rural Maharashtra, Gondhal unfolds over a single night during a traditional Gondhal ritual centred around a newlywed couple. The film uses the centuries-old Maharashtrian ritual as the backdrop for a tense story involving relationships, betrayal, desire and danger.
The film stars Kishor Kadam, Ishita Deshmukh, Yogesh Sohoni, Nishad Bhoir and Anuj Prabhu. Veteran composer Ilaiyaraaja has composed the music for the movie.
The traditional Gondhal performance itself plays an important role in the narrative. Gondhal is a Maharashtrian ritual involving devotional music, singing, dance and worship, and the film places this cultural tradition at the centre of its storytelling.
Gondhal Chosen From 33 Films
The FFI selection committee, chaired by filmmaker P Sheshadri, reviewed 33 films before selecting Gondhal. The submissions included films across several Indian languages, including Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, Gujarati and Tamil.
Among the films in contention were popular titles such as Dhurandhar, Border 2, Main Vaapas Aaunga, Haq, Hanuman Ansh, Peddi and 120 Bahadur. Reports said the final deliberations eventually narrowed the field before Gondhal was selected.
There has also been considerable discussion about Dhurandhar after the selection. FFI jury member Vivek Vaswani said the Ranveer Singh-led film received four votes from the 14-member jury, while other reports have detailed the jury’s reasoning for selecting Gondhal.
Santosh Davakhar’s Oscar Journey
The Oscar selection adds to Davakhar’s growing recognition. He previously won the Silver Peacock for Best Director at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in 2025 for Gondhal.
The next stage will be the Academy’s selection process, with the eventual shortlist and nominations to be announced ahead of the 99th Academy Awards on March 14, 2027, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
