Mumbai, Sep 18: Marathi cinema has secured another major opportunity on the global stage, with Gondhal, written and directed by Santosh Davakhar, chosen as India’s official entry for the 99th Academy Awards.
The Film Federation of India selected the film from 33 submissions for the Best International Feature category. The announcement places a story rooted in Maharashtra’s cultural landscape at the centre of India’s Oscar campaign for 2027.
Set in rural Maharashtra, Gondhal draws from the traditional Gondhal folk-performance tradition, bringing elements of music, dance, mythology and local customs into its narrative. The film uses this cultural setting to explore relationships, personal choices, desire, betrayal and the tensions that can emerge when individual aspirations meet deeply rooted traditions.
The film features Kishor Kadam, Ishita Deshmukh, Yogesh Sohoni, Nishad Bhoir and Anuj Prabhu among others. Its selection follows recognition for Davakhar at the 56th International Film Festival of India, where he received the Silver Peacock award.
The selection also adds another chapter to the growing presence of regional-language cinema in India’s international film journey. Gondhal is the fourth Marathi-language film to be chosen as India’s official Oscar entry, following Shwaas, Harishchandrachi Factory and Court.
For Marathi cinema, the development provides an opportunity to bring a story shaped by Maharashtra’s folk traditions and contemporary social realities to a much wider international audience. It also highlights the diversity of Indian filmmaking, where regional languages and local cultural experiences continue to contribute to the country’s broader cinematic identity.
The Oscar selection is the beginning of the Academy’s subsequent evaluation process and does not by itself mean that the film has secured a final nomination. The 99th Academy Awards are scheduled to be held on March 14, 2027, in Los Angeles.
With Gondhal now entering the international feature film race, Marathi cinema gets another opportunity to showcase its storytelling traditions, regional identity and contemporary creative talent to audiences beyond India.