Marathi film Gondhal, written and directed by Santosh Davakhar, has been selected as India’s official entry for the 99th Academy Awards, or Oscars 2027, in the Best International Feature Film category. The Film Federation of India announced the selection on September 18, 2026, after its committee considered 33 films submitted from across Indian languages.
Set in rural Maharashtra, Gondhal unfolds during a single night around the traditional Gondhal ritual, a folk performance and devotional ceremony. At the centre of the story is Suman, a newly married woman trapped in an oppressive marriage whose secret relationship and desire for escape lead the story into darker territory involving murder, deception and fate.
The film has also already received recognition on the festival circuit. Davakhar won the Silver Peacock for Best Director at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in 2025.
Gondhal: What Is the Film About?
Gondhal is set in rural Maharashtra and takes place over the course of a night during a traditional Gondhal ceremony.
The story follows Suman, a woman living in an unhappy and oppressive marriage. While the village is immersed in the ritual and its celebrations, Suman finds herself caught between her married life, her forbidden relationship and her desire to escape.
Her relationship with her lover eventually leads her toward a dangerous plan involving murder and escape.
This gives Gondhal a thriller structure while keeping the traditional ritual at the centre of the narrative. The film explores the tension between cultural traditions, personal desires, relationships and the consequences of decisions made under pressure.
The Indian Express describes the film as an examination of how deeply rooted traditions intersect with individual aspirations and human weaknesses.
Why Is Gondhal India’s Oscar 2027 Entry?
The Film Federation of India (FFI) selected Gondhal from a field of 33 films submitted for consideration for India’s Best International Feature Film entry.
The submissions represented several Indian languages and included both regional and Hindi-language films. According to the selection committee, the final discussion also included films such as Angh and Ikkis.
The selection does not mean that Gondhal is already an Oscar nominee. It is India’s official submission to the Academy’s International Feature Film category.
The Academy will subsequently determine the shortlist and final nominees.
Gondhal and the Oscars 2027: What Happens Next?
India’s selection of Gondhal is the first major step in its Oscars 2027 journey.
The film will now be considered alongside official submissions from other countries for the International Feature Film category.
According to current Academy-season reporting, the Academy’s International Feature Film process involves a shortlist followed by the final nominations. The 99th Academy Awards are scheduled for March 14, 2027.
Therefore, it is important to distinguish between three stages:
- India’s official entry: Gondhal
- Academy shortlist: To be announced
- Final Oscar nominees: To be announced later
At present, Gondhal has reached the first stage.
Gondhal Cast
The Gondhal cast includes:
- Ishita Deshmukh
- Kishor Kadam
- Yogesh Sohani
- Nishad Bhoir
- Anuj Prabhu
- Dhru Thoke
- Suresh Vishwakarma
- Vitthal Kale
Ishita Deshmukh plays Suman, the central character around whom the film’s relationship and thriller elements unfold.
Who Directed Gondhal?
Santosh Davakhar wrote and directed Gondhal.
His work on the film was previously recognised at IFFI 2025, where he won the Silver Peacock Award for Best Director. The film also received recognition at other festival events, including the Bengaluru International Film Festival, Pune International Film Festival and Third Eye Asian International Film Festival, according to the Indian Express.
What Does Gondhal Mean in the Film?
The word Gondhal refers to a traditional Maharashtrian ritual and folk-performance tradition.
In the film, the ritual is more than simply a cultural backdrop. The entire story is structured around a night of Gondhal, creating a setting where religious devotion, community participation and private conflicts exist alongside each other.
That contrast becomes important to the film’s narrative.
While the village participates in a traditional ceremony, Suman is dealing with a deeply personal crisis. Her secret relationship and plans for escape gradually bring deception and violence into a night otherwise associated with ritual and devotion.
Gondhal Story Explained
Spoiler warning.
Suman is trapped in a marriage she does not want. Her emotional connection with another man gives her an alternative to the life she is currently living, but escaping the marriage is not straightforward.
During the night of the Gondhal ritual, her personal situation becomes increasingly complicated.
She and her forbidden lover become involved in a plan to murder her husband and escape together. The situation forces the characters to navigate secrecy, fear and the consequences of their decisions.
The film uses this central conflict to blur the boundaries between devotion, deception and fate, turning what begins as a traditional village ceremony into the setting for a tense psychological and social thriller.
Gondhal’s Festival Journey
Before becoming India’s Oscar 2027 entry, Gondhal had already established a presence on the festival circuit.
The film had its world premiere at the 56th International Film Festival of India in Goa in 2025, where Santosh Davakhar won the Silver Peacock for Best Director.
It was subsequently recognised at other film festivals, adding to the film’s profile before its selection by the FFI.
Gondhal vs Other Films Considered for India’s Oscar Entry
The FFI selection committee considered 33 films before choosing Gondhal.
The submitted films included titles from multiple Indian film industries and languages. The list included films such as:
- Haq
- Dhurandhar
- Dhurandhar: The Revenge
- Hanuman Ansh
- Border 2
- Main Vaapas Aaunga
- Peddi
- 120 Bahadur
- Ikkis
- Angh
The selection committee’s final choice was Gondhal.
Gondhal Is the Fourth Marathi Film Chosen for India’s Oscar Entry
Gondhal becomes the fourth Marathi film to be selected as India’s official Oscar entry.
Earlier Marathi films selected were:
- Shwaas in 2005
- Harishchandrachi Factory in 2009
- Court in 2015
- Gondhal in 2026 for the 2027 Oscars
The selection therefore adds another significant chapter to Marathi cinema’s representation in India’s Oscar submissions.
Gondhal Music
Veteran composer Ilaiyaraaja has composed the music for Gondhal, adding another notable name to the film’s creative team.
The use of traditional Maharashtrian cultural elements alongside a contemporary thriller narrative is one of the film’s defining characteristics.
Why Gondhal Is Generating Attention
The Oscar announcement has brought Gondhal into the national spotlight.
The film’s journey is particularly notable because it combines several elements that distinguish it from a conventional mainstream thriller:
- A rural Maharashtra setting
- A traditional Gondhal ritual
- A woman at the centre of the narrative
- A forbidden relationship
- A murder and escape plot
- Marathi-language storytelling
- Festival recognition
- An established filmmaker award at IFFI
- Selection as India’s official Oscar entry
The film’s Oscar journey also places renewed attention on Marathi cinema and its ability to tell locally rooted stories for an international audience.
Gondhal FAQs
What is Gondhal?
Gondhal is a Marathi thriller written and directed by Santosh Davakhar. The story is set in rural Maharashtra during a traditional Gondhal ritual and follows a married woman caught in a forbidden relationship and a dangerous plan to escape her marriage.
Is Gondhal India’s entry for Oscars 2027?
Yes. The Film Federation of India selected Gondhal as India’s official entry for the 99th Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category.
Who directed Gondhal?
Santosh Davakhar directed and wrote the film.
Who stars in Gondhal?
The cast includes Ishita Deshmukh, Kishor Kadam, Yogesh Sohani, Nishad Bhoir, Anuj Prabhu, Dhru Thoke, Suresh Vishwakarma and Vitthal Kale.
Who plays Suman in Gondhal?
Ishita Deshmukh plays Suman, the central character.
What is the story of Gondhal?
The film follows Suman, a woman trapped in an oppressive marriage who plans to escape with her forbidden lover. Their plan becomes connected to murder and deception during a night-long traditional Gondhal ritual.
How many films were considered for India’s Oscar entry?
The Film Federation of India considered 33 films before selecting Gondhal.
Has Gondhal won any awards?
Yes. Director Santosh Davakhar won the Silver Peacock for Best Director at IFFI 2025 for the film.
Is Gondhal already nominated for an Oscar?
No. Gondhal is India’s official submission for the International Feature Film category. The Academy’s subsequent shortlist and nominations are separate stages.
Gondhal and Oscars 2027: The Latest Update
As of September 18, 2026, Gondhal is officially India’s submission for the 2027 Oscars. The Marathi film now enters the Academy’s consideration process after being selected from 33 Indian submissions.
Its story combines rural Maharashtra, traditional folk culture, forbidden love and a murder plot, while its festival history gives the film an established record before its Oscar selection.
For Marathi cinema, the selection also marks the fourth time a Marathi-language film has been chosen as India’s official Oscar entry.
