Marathi Film Gondhal Selected as India’s Official Entry for Oscars 2027
Marathi thriller Gondhal has been officially selected as India’s entry for the 2027 Oscars, marking a major moment for Marathi cinema. The Film Federation of India (FFI) announced the selection on September 18, choosing Santosh Davakhar’s film for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards.
The film was selected from a field of 33 submissions representing multiple Indian languages. Among the films considered were high-profile titles such as Dhurandhar and Hanuman Ansh.
Gondhal Chosen From 33 Films
The Film Federation of India selection committee reviewed 33 films before choosing Gondhal as India’s official submission.
The submissions included 14 Hindi films, four Marathi films, four Telugu films, four Gujarati films, three Tamil films, one Malayalam film and one Nagamese film, along with a silent film.
The selection committee was chaired by filmmaker P Sheshadri. Reports said the panel watched all 33 films over a period of 10 days before reaching its decision.
What Is Gondhal About?
Written and directed by Santosh Davakhar, Gondhal is set in rural Maharashtra and takes its name from the traditional Gondhal ritual and folk-performance tradition.
The film unfolds around a newlywed couple and explores relationships, ambition, tradition and human conflict against the backdrop of a traditional midnight ritual.
According to reports, the story follows Suman, a woman trapped in an unhappy and oppressive marriage. Her relationship with a Gondhal performer develops into a story involving deception, desire, murder and an attempt to escape her circumstances.
Santosh Davakhar’s Film Gets Oscar Opportunity
The Oscar selection adds to the recognition already received by Davakhar and Gondhal on the festival circuit.
Davakhar won the Silver Peacock for Best Director at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in 2025. The film has also received recognition at other Indian film festivals, including the Bengaluru International Film Festival, Pune International Film Festival and Third Eye Asian International Film Festival.
The selection now gives the Marathi film an opportunity to reach a much wider international audience.
Gondhal Beats Major Oscar Contenders
The FFI’s selection came after Gondhal competed against a broad group of films submitted for consideration.
Among the widely discussed contenders were Dhurandhar and Hanuman Ansh, both of which had attracted significant attention before the announcement. Reports confirmed that Gondhal was ultimately selected from the 33-film field.
The selection does not mean that Gondhal has already received an Oscar nomination. It is India’s official submission and must still go through the Academy’s international feature selection process.
India’s Oscar Journey Continues
India has regularly submitted films for consideration in the Best International Feature category, but an official Indian submission is not automatically guaranteed a final Oscar nomination.
The next stage involves the Academy’s selection process, which will determine the international feature-film shortlist and eventual nominees. Gondhal will therefore now enter the campaign and consideration phase ahead of the 2027 ceremony.
The 99th Academy Awards are scheduled for March 14, 2027, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
A Milestone for Marathi Cinema
The selection is particularly significant for Marathi cinema.
Gondhal becomes the fourth Marathi-language film to be selected as India’s official Oscar submission, following Shwaas, Harishchandrachi Factory and Court.
The latest selection again puts a regional Indian-language production at the centre of the country’s international film campaign.
Traditional Culture at the Centre of the Story
One of the defining elements of Gondhal is its use of Maharashtra’s traditional Gondhal ritual as more than just a visual setting.
The film uses the cultural practice as the backdrop for a psychological thriller involving personal relationships and social pressures. This combination of regional tradition and contemporary human conflict forms an important part of the film’s identity.
The approach also places Marathi cultural traditions before an international audience through one of India’s most prominent film awards platforms.
Who Stars in Gondhal?
The film features Ishita Deshmukh, Yogesh Sohoni, Kishor Kadam, Suresh Vishwakarma, Nishad Bhoir, Anuj Prabhu and Vitthal Kale.
Davakhar has also been credited with writing the story, screenplay and dialogues, while Diksha Davakhar is associated with the film as co-producer.
What Happens Next for Gondhal?
Following its selection as India’s official entry, Gondhal will move into the Academy Awards’ international feature-film consideration process.
The film must first make it through the Academy’s shortlist process before it can become one of the final nominees in the Best International Feature Film category. Its selection by the FFI therefore represents the beginning of the Oscar journey rather than the final stage.
For the filmmakers, the coming months are expected to focus on international promotion and the Oscar campaign.
Looking Ahead
The selection of Gondhal for Oscars 2027 puts Marathi cinema in the international spotlight and gives Santosh Davakhar’s rural Maharashtra-set thriller an opportunity to compete on the global awards circuit.
Chosen from 33 Indian submissions, the film will now represent India in the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards. The next major milestone will be the Academy’s shortlist and nomination announcements as the 2027 Oscars campaign progresses.
FAQs
1. Which film is India’s official entry for the Oscars 2027?
Marathi thriller Gondhal has been selected as India’s official entry for the 2027 Oscars.
2. Who directed Gondhal?
Gondhal was written and directed by Santosh Davakhar.
3. Which Oscar category will Gondhal compete in?
The film has been submitted for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards.
4. How many films were considered for India’s Oscar entry?
The Film Federation of India considered 33 film submissions before selecting Gondhal.
5. Did Gondhal compete with Dhurandhar?
Yes. Dhurandhar was among the films submitted for consideration, along with Hanuman Ansh and several other titles.
6. What is Gondhal about?
The film is a psychological and cultural thriller set in rural Maharashtra, centred around a traditional Gondhal ritual and a troubled newlywed relationship.
7. Has Gondhal won any awards?
Yes. Director Santosh Davakhar won the Silver Peacock for Best Director at IFFI 2025.
8. Is Gondhal already nominated for an Oscar?
No. It is India’s official submission. It must still pass through the Academy’s shortlist and nomination process.
9. When will the 2027 Oscars take place?
The 99th Academy Awards are scheduled for March 14, 2027, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
10. Is Gondhal the first Marathi film to represent India at the Oscars?
No. It is the fourth Marathi-language film selected as India’s official Oscar submission, following Shwaas, Harishchandrachi Factory and Court.
