Gondhal made history this year for its historic selection as the official Indian entry by the Film Federation of India (FFI) at the 99th Academy Awards on September 18, 2026. For the Oscars 2027, Gondhal will be one of the nominations for the Best International Feature Film category.
Under the direction of Santosh Davakhar, co-founder of Davakhar Films, the film is set in the rural areas of Maharashtra, diving deep into a dark and suspenseful tale of betrayals and obsessions.
Davakhar expresses his excitement, explaining the original goals behind making Gondhal. He said, “When we set out to make ‘Gondhal,’ our only goal was to stay fiercely true to the raw culture, haunting rhythms, and untold layers of our soil.”
On seeing the regional story of Gondhal journeying to meet a nationwide audience as well as being a participant in the Oscar race, he further said, “To see this deeply rooted folk thriller resonate so profoundly that it becomes India’s official Oscar entry is an overwhelming honour. Now, bringing it to audiences across the country on November 13 in a Pan-India release feels like bringing the story back full circle.”
He mentions just how much gratitude he has for all the love the film has received from the viewers. Davakhar continued, “Cinema has no language barriers when the emotion is raw and honest, and I am filled with immense gratitude that viewers from every corner of India will get to experience this sacred, suspenseful journey on the big screen together.”
Gondhal follows the tale of Suman , a young woman who is entangled within a suffocating marriage and seeking out. What follows is a desperate act of exploiting her lover’s obsessive faith in the sacred traditional Gondhal ritual, eventually leading to a web of secret betrayals and severe consequences.
Gondhal is all set and geared up for its Pan-India theatrical release on November 13, 2026.
Also Read: Marathi Film Gondhal Chosen As India’s Official Entry For 99th Academy Awards
