Gondhal Trailer Takes India’s Oscar Entry Into a Midnight Folk Ritual: Release in Seven Languages on November 13

What the Trailer Hints At

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The trailer offers glimpses of a newlywed couple whose lives take an unsettling turn, with duty, devotion and desire at the centre. The source text names the couple Suman and Anand Rao; I could not confirm those names in the reports found. The film is set during a Gondhal, a centuries-old midnight folk ritual of Maharashtra.

Cast and Crew

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Ishita Deshmukh and Kishor Kadam star, with Yogesh Sohoni and Anuj Prabhu also in the cast. Amalendu Chaudhary shot the film, which opens with an unbroken 25-minute take, and Ilaiyaraaja composed the music and score. Davakhar produced it with Diksha Davakhar under Davakhar Films. Variety

The Director’s Point

Davakhar says global perceptions of Indian cinema are often shaped by stories of poverty and caste conflict, which are important but not the full picture. He says India is also a civilisation of rich cultural traditions, and that he made the film to bring one such tradition to a global screen.

Awards Path

The Film Federation of India selected “Gondhal” as the country’s official entry on September 18, 2026. It was chosen from 33 films in contention. Davakhar won the Silver Peacock for Best Director at the 56th International Film Festival of India. Gondhal Trailer OUT: Oscar Entry Releases November 13 +2

Why It Matters

India’s Oscar submissions often struggle for visibility at home, and a seven-language release is a bid to change that. The selection is also notable for the choice of a debut director and a regional-language film rooted in a folk ritual. Being submitted does not mean the film will be shortlisted or nominated, and that outcome is months away.

What Comes Next

Audience response on November 13 and the first-weekend numbers will show whether the multilingual strategy works. The Academy’s shortlist stage follows later. Bolly Orbit will update this report as developments emerge.