Marathi thriller Gondhal, written and directed by Santosh Davakhar, is making headlines after being selected as India’s official entry for Best International Feature at the 99th Oscars. Set over one night during a traditional ritual in rural Maharashtra, the film follows a newly married woman plotting an escape from her marriage.
The film won in the category of Best Director at IFFI and boasts an 8.9 rating on IMDb. Announced on September 18, 2026, by FFI from 33 contenders, it is the fourth Marathi film to represent India. Although it was released theatrically on November 14, 2025, Gondhal is not yet available for streaming on any OTT platform.
Gondhal is yet to get an OTT release in India
Currently, viewers in India cannot find Gondhal on any leading OTT service, nor is it offered on pay-per-view platforms for rental or digital purchase. After opening in cinemas in November 2025, the Marathi thriller never moved to streaming.
No official note claims this delay was a deliberate Oscar strategy. But the new status of Gondhal as India’s pick for Best International Feature at the 99th Academy Awards has reshaped its release roadmap toward a bigger theatrical push.
As per reports and tracking sites on September 19, 2026, no OTT partner or digital premiere window has been locked. The producers also have not opened up about the reasons for the delay in the OTT release. The film is instead eyeing a comeback in theatres across India and a fresh overseas run, with an official confirmation still pending.
Filmmaker Santosh Davakhar has revealed that the film will be re-released in other languages too. This includes Hindi, Malayalam, and Kannada versions, and he has urged audiences to catch it in theatres first, citing the immersive 26-minute one-shot opening that loses impact on phones and small screens.
Gondhal selected as India’s entry into the upcoming Oscars
On September 18, 2026, the Film Federation of India announced Gondhal as India’s official submission for Best International Feature at the 99th Academy Awards. The event is scheduled to be held on March 14, 2027, at the Dolby Theatre.
The selection was made by a jury headed by P Sheshadri after screening 33 films in ten days. FFI said this year included four Marathi and 14 Hindi films among the contenders, with titles like Dhurandhar, Border 2, Haq and Peddi also in the race. Gondhal is only the fourth Marathi film to represent India, after Shwaas, Harishchandrachi Factory and Court.
The jury noted that Angh and Ikkis were also in the final three alongside Gondhal. Director Santosh Davakhar reacted soon after the announcement. The Sinnar-based filmmaker, also an IIM graduate and FTII-trained writer, expressed his happiness on Instagram.
Santosh later told The Indian Express, “India and FFI have shown their faith in our team and our product. I am feeling very nervous, but we are ready for the campaign. We have already hired most of the media and PR team in Los Angeles.”
Set in rural Maharashtra, Gondhal unfolds over a single night of the traditional Gondhal ritual centered on a newlywed couple. It follows ‘Suman,’ a woman trapped in an oppressive marriage, who plots a murder and an escape with her forbidden lover, blurring devotion, deception, and fate.
Ishita Deshmukh plays the lead as ‘Suman,’ with Kishor Kadam as ‘Bhivaba,’ Yogesh Sohoni as ‘Anand,’ and Nishad Bhoir as ‘Sarjerao’ in key roles, alongside Suresh Vishwakarma and Anuj Prabhu. Veteran composer Ilaiyaraaja has scored the music.
What are your thoughts about the delayed OTT release of Gondhal? Let us know.
PC: IMDb, Rajshri Marathi/YouTube
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