Marathi film Gondhal selected as India's official entry for Oscars 2027

The Film Federation of India announced its official selection for the 99th Academy Awards, naming Santosh Davakhar’s Marathi thriller Gondhal as India’s contender for the Best International Feature Film category. The decision positions a rural-set regional drama at the forefront of the country's upcoming Oscar campaign in Los Angeles.

Selection Process and Contenders

The 13-member selection committee, chaired by filmmaker P. Sheshadri, evaluated submissions over a ten-day period. Gondhal emerged victorious from a diverse pool of 33 national entries spanning multiple languages. According to reporting from the Film Federation of India and participating outlets, the submission pool included 14 Hindi titles alongside entries in Telugu, Gujarati, Tamil, Malayalam, and Nagamese, as well as a silent film. Among the high-profile titles in consideration were Border 2, Dhurandhar, 120 Bahadur, Angh, and Dorothy.

While the Film Federation of India announced the selection, the choice marks a continuation of the country's historical efforts in the international feature category. India has yet to win an Academy Award in this segment, with only three domestic submissions—Mehboob Khan’s Mother India, Mira Nair’s Salaam Bombay!, and Ashutosh Gowariker’s Lagaan—ever securing formal nominations. Deepa Mehta’s Water also received a nomination but represented Canada. In the previous year, India submitted Neeraj Ghaywan's drama Homebound, which ultimately missed the Academy's final shortlist.

Plot, Cultural Roots, and Production Background

Set against the backdrop of rural Maharashtra, Gondhal unfolds over the course of a single night. The narrative centers on Suman, portrayed by Ishita Deshmukh, who lives an unhappy life married to a wealthy man named Anand. Seeking a way out of her circumstances, Suman falls in love with Saheba, a performer within the traditional Gondhal folk-performance tradition, pulling Anand’s obsessive cousin Sarjerao into a dangerous scheme involving betrayal, survival, and murder.

The film weaves Maharashtra’s centuries-old midnight ritual directly into its storytelling. Rather than acting as a mere atmospheric backdrop, the drumming, dancing, and religious invocations mirror the hidden lives and escalating tensions of the characters. The project features an ensemble cast including Kishor Kadam, Yogesh Sohoni, Suresh Vishwakarma, Kailash Waghmare, Nishad Bhoir, Madhavi Juvekar, and Anuj Prabhu, with a musical score composed by veteran musician Ilaiyaraaja.

Before securing the Oscar nod, the production enjoyed a robust run on the festival circuit. Director Santosh Davakhar earned the Silver Peacock Award for Best Director at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, and the film subsequently picked up the FIPRESCI Award at the 17th Bengaluru International Film Festival. These accolades helped propel the film past its modest domestic box office run following its theatrical release.

With the selection finalized, Gondhal now begins its official campaign in Los Angeles as it seeks to secure a spot on the Academy's 15-film shortlist leading up to the 99th Academy Awards ceremony scheduled for March 14, 2027, at the Dolby Theatre.