Santosh Davakhar’s Marathi thriller Gondhal has been selected as India’s official entry for the 99th Academy Awards. The film will compete in the Best International Feature Film category, which was earlier known as Best Foreign Language Film.
The Film Federation of India (FFI) announced the selection on Friday, September 18. Gondhal was chosen by an expert jury from more than 30 films that were considered for India’s Oscar submission this year.
Directed by Santosh Davakhar, Gondhal is a thriller rooted in the cultural traditions of Maharashtra. The film takes its name from the traditional midnight folk ritual and unfolds over a tense night during a sacred ceremony. Blending elements of local heritage with suspense, the film follows a series of unexpected events that take place through the course of the night.
The film’s Oscar selection adds another milestone to the journey of Marathi cinema on the international stage. Gondhal is the fourth Marathi-language film to be chosen as India’s official Oscar entry, following Shwaas in 2005, Harishchandrachi Factory in 2009 and Court in 2015.
Davakhar has also received recognition for his work as a director. He won the Silver Peacock for Best Director at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) for Gondhal.
Following the announcement, members of the Indian film industry and artists welcomed the film’s selection. According to FFI officials, the jury was drawn to the film’s strong regional identity while also finding its themes accessible to a wider audience.
India is yet to win the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. Over the years, three Indian films have received nominations in the category Mother India, Salaam Bombay and Lagaan.
With Gondhal now representing India in the Oscar race, the film will enter the next phase of its international campaign ahead of the 99th Academy Awards. The ceremony is scheduled to be held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on March 14, 2027.
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