The team behind the Marathi thriller Gondhal is officially heading to the Oscars, and they have been preparing for this moment for nearly a year. Director and producer Santosh Davakhar revealed that his team was always confident in the quality of their project, having planned an international awards push long before the official selection. For Davakhar, being chosen as India’s official entry for the International Feature Film category at the 2027 Oscars is both a great blessing and a significant responsibility, as the film now carries the weight of representing the entire nation on a global stage.
As the team shifts gears for the campaign, the focus turns to the intensive work required to gain the attention of Academy voters. Davakhar noted that the coming months will be a whirlwind of activity, with the goal of securing between 6,000 and 7,000 votes to make a mark. He emphasized that the film was crafted with the intention of capturing the attention of technicians and creators across the entire Indian film industry, aiming to showcase the depth of storytelling coming out of the country today.
Rather than viewing this selection as a victory over other regional cinema, Davakhar insists that Gondhal stands as a collective representation of the Indian film industry at large. He pointed to the diversity of Indian cinema, noting that the jury’s choice reflects the breadth of talent found in the South, Marathi cinema, and beyond. Expressing his gratitude toward the Film Federation of India and the government, the director remains focused on the film’s roots in Indian heritage as it prepares to compete internationally.
Directed by Santosh Davakhar, the two-hour thriller features an ensemble cast including Kishor Kadam, Ishita Deshmukh, Yogesh Sohoni, Nishad Bhoir, and Anuj Prabhu. The film was selected by the Film Federation of India from a competitive pool of entries, marking a major milestone for the Marathi film industry as it prepares for the upcoming awards season.