Gondhal Marathi Movie Oscars 2027 is a Marathi-language thriller selected as India’s official entry for the 98th Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category. Directed by Santosh Davakhar, the film draws inspiration from Maharashtra’s traditional Gondhal ritual and explores themes of love, deception, and survival.
Gondhal Marathi Movie Oscars 2027: India’s Official Oscar Entry
Marathi film Gondhal has been selected as India’s official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards in 2027. Directed by Santosh Davakhar, the thriller was chosen from 33 films submitted for consideration by the Film Federation of India (FFI). The film combines a story of relationships, deception and personal struggle with the traditional Gondhal ritual of Maharashtra.
The announcement was made on September 18, 2026, bringing renewed attention to Marathi cinema and its representation on the international film stage. The selection follows the film’s recognition at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in 2025, where Davakhar received the Silver Peacock Award for Best Director.
The development marks another milestone for regional Indian cinema, while the film’s Oscar journey now moves into the Academy Awards selection process.
What Is Gondhal, India’s Official Oscar Entry for 2027?
Gondhal is a Marathi-language thriller written and directed by Santosh Davakhar. Set in rural Maharashtra, the film unfolds over a night during a traditional Gondhal ritual. Its story follows Suman, a woman caught in an unhappy marriage whose decisions lead to a complicated chain of love, deception and danger.
Here are the essential details:
| Film Detail | Information |
| Film title | Gondhal |
| Language | Marathi |
| Genre | Thriller |
| Director | Santosh Davakhar |
| Writer | Santosh Davakhar |
| Lead actor | Ishita Deshmukh |
| Other key cast members | Kishor Kadam, Yogesh Sohoni and Nishad Bhoir |
| Music composer | Ilaiyaraaja |
| Setting | Rural Maharashtra |
| Runtime | 117 minutes |
| India’s Oscar selection | Best International Feature Film category, 99th Academy Awards |
| Selection announced | September 18, 2026 |
| Films considered by FFI | 33 |
Source: Film coverage published by HNN 24×7, The Indian Express and The Economic Times.
Gondhal Movie Story: A Thriller Rooted in Maharashtrian Tradition
The story of Gondhal centres on Suman, a young woman whose marriage to the wealthy Anand appears comfortable from the outside but leaves her deeply unhappy.
Her life becomes increasingly complicated when she develops feelings for Saheba, a Gondhali performer. Seeking a way out of her marriage, Suman becomes involved in a dangerous plan and draws Anand’s cousin Sarjerao into the unfolding events.
What begins as an attempt to change her circumstances develops into a tense story involving manipulation, betrayal, murder and survival.
The film uses the traditional Gondhal ritual as the backdrop for this personal conflict, bringing together cultural practices and a suspense-driven narrative.
Rather than treating the ritual simply as decoration, the film places it at the centre of the events, connecting the atmosphere of the performance with the characters’ decisions.
Gondhal Movie Cast and Crew
The film features a Marathi ensemble cast led by Ishita Deshmukh.
| Cast or Crew Member | Role or Contribution |
| Santosh Davakhar | Writer and director |
| Ishita Deshmukh | Suman |
| Yogesh Sohoni | Anand |
| Nishad Bhoir | Sarjerao |
| Kishor Kadam | Cast member |
| Anuj Prabhu | Cast member |
| Ilaiyaraaja | Music composer |
The combination of regional performers, a rural Maharashtra setting and a story shaped around a traditional ritual forms a central part of the film’s identity.
What Is the Gondhal Ritual Featured in the Movie?
Gondhal is a traditional Maharashtrian ritual and folk-performance practice associated with devotional observance. It can involve music, singing, dance, storytelling and performances connected with religious traditions.
The ritual’s cultural and performative elements provide the setting for the film’s dramatic events.
By placing the story within this environment, the movie connects its fictional characters and conflicts with a recognisable part of Maharashtra’s cultural heritage.
The ritual also gives the film a distinctive atmosphere, allowing the narrative to explore the relationship between devotion, social expectations and personal choices.
Why Is Gondhal’s Oscar 2027 Selection Significant?
Gondhal’s selection is notable for several reasons.
1. It brings Marathi cinema into the international awards conversation
The selection places a Marathi-language production among the films representing their countries in the Academy Awards’ international feature category.
2. It connects regional storytelling with a wider audience
The film draws on a cultural tradition associated with Maharashtra while exploring themes such as relationships, freedom, deception and survival.
3. It follows recognition at international film festivals
Before its Oscar selection, Gondhal received attention at the 56th IFFI in Goa, where Santosh Davakhar won the Silver Peacock Award for Best Director.
4. It continues Marathi cinema’s history of Oscar submissions
Gondhal is the fourth Marathi film selected as India’s official Oscar entry, following Shwaas, Harishchandrachi Factory and Court.
These developments establish the context of the selection without guaranteeing the film’s progress to the final Oscar nominations.
Gondhal Wins Silver Peacock for Best Director at IFFI 2025
Gondhal had its world premiere at the 56th International Film Festival of India in Goa in 2025, where director Santosh Davakhar received the Silver Peacock Award for Best Director.
The award was announced on November 28, 2025, by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
The IFFI recognition came before the film’s selection as India’s Oscar entry and forms part of its festival history.
Reference: Press Information Bureau – Silver Peacock for Best Director Awarded to Santosh Davakhar for Gondhal
Gondhal and India’s Previous Marathi Oscar Entries
Gondhal joins three earlier Marathi-language films that were selected to represent India in the Academy Awards’ international feature category.
| Film | Year of India’s Oscar Submission |
| Shwaas | 2005 |
| Harishchandrachi Factory | 2009 |
| Court | 2015 |
| Gondhal | 2027 |
These films represent different periods of Marathi filmmaking and demonstrate the language’s continuing presence in India’s international cinema submissions.
It is important to distinguish an official country submission from an Oscar nomination. Selection by India does not automatically mean that a film will appear among the Academy’s final nominees.
What Happens Next in Gondhal’s Oscar Journey?
Gondhal has been selected as India’s official submission, but the Academy Awards process involves additional stages.
The film must proceed through the applicable Academy selection process before it can become a nominee.
The 99th Academy Awards are scheduled for March 14, 2027. The Academy’s published calendar lists the international feature shortlist announcement for December 15, 2026, and the nominations announcement for January 21, 2027.
These dates are subject to change, and the film’s eventual progress should be confirmed through official Academy announcements.
Official reference: Academy Awards Rules and Eligibility
Gondhal Movie: Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is Gondhal India’s official Oscar entry for 2027?
Yes. The Film Federation of India selected the Marathi film Gondhal as India’s official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards.
2. Who directed the Marathi film Gondhal?
Santosh Davakhar wrote and directed Gondhal.
3. What is the story of Gondhal about?
The thriller follows Suman, a woman in an unhappy marriage who develops feelings for a Gondhali performer. Her attempt to change her circumstances leads to a dangerous chain of events involving deception, murder and survival.
4. Who plays the lead role in Gondhal?
Ishita Deshmukh plays Suman, the central character in the film.
5. Which actors appear in Gondhal?
The cast includes Ishita Deshmukh, Kishor Kadam, Yogesh Sohoni, Nishad Bhoir and Anuj Prabhu, among others.
6. What is the significance of the Gondhal ritual in the movie?
The traditional Maharashtrian ritual provides the setting for the film’s story. Its music, performance and devotional context contribute to the atmosphere and narrative.
7. Did Gondhal win an award at IFFI 2025?
Yes. Santosh Davakhar received the Silver Peacock Award for Best Director for Gondhal at the 56th International Film Festival of India in 2025.
8. How many films were considered for India’s Oscar entry?
The Film Federation of India considered 33 films before selecting Gondhal.
9. Has Gondhal received an Oscar nomination?
Its selection as India’s official entry is confirmed. This is different from receiving a final Academy Award nomination. Its progress through the Academy’s selection process should be followed through official announcements.
10. When will the 99th Academy Awards take place?
The 99th Academy Awards are scheduled for March 14, 2027, according to the Academy’s published announcement.
11. Is Gondhal available on OTT?
Its current OTT availability should be verified through the film’s official announcements and streaming platforms. Do not assume that an Oscar submission automatically means a digital release.
12. Why is Gondhal important for Marathi cinema?
The selection brings a Marathi-language film rooted in Maharashtra’s cultural traditions into the international awards process and continues the history of Marathi films selected to represent India.
Conclusion
Gondhal’s selection as India’s official entry for the 2027 Oscars places a Marathi-language thriller rooted in Maharashtra’s cultural traditions in the international spotlight.
Written and directed by Santosh Davakhar, the film combines a suspense-driven story with the traditional Gondhal ritual. Its earlier recognition at IFFI 2025 adds context to its journey, while the Academy’s upcoming selection stages will determine whether it advances to the final nominations.
For Marathi cinema, the selection represents another opportunity for regional storytelling to reach audiences beyond India.
