'Gondhal' Named India's Official Oscar Entry 2026
Marathi film "Gondhal," directed by Santosh Davakhar, has been selected as India's official entry for the 99th Academy Awards' Best International Feature category.
Key Highlights:
- The Film Federation of India has selected the Marathi film "Gondhal" as India's official entry for the 99th Academy Awards.
- Directed by Santosh Davakhar, the film beat 33 contenders, including "Dhurandhar," "Haq" and "120 Bahadur."
- "Gondhal" is set against the backdrop of the traditional Maharashtrian Gondhal folk ritual.
- It is the fourth Marathi film to represent India at the Oscars, after "Shwaas," "Harishchandrachi Factory" and "Court."
- The 99th Academy Awards will be held on March 14, 2027, with Conan O'Brien returning as host for a third consecutive year.
A Marathi Film Wins India's Top Oscar Slot
The Marathi language film "Gondhal" has been selected by the Film Federation of India as India's official entry for the upcoming 99th edition of the Academy Awards, marking a significant moment for regional Indian cinema on the global awards stage.
A Competitive Selection Process
The Film Federation of India made the announcement in Mumbai on Friday. There were 33 films in contention this year, and the jury ultimately picked Santosh Davakhar's film to represent India in the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards, a decision that came after evaluating a notably large and diverse pool of submissions spanning multiple Indian languages and genres.
The Film's Story and Cast
"Gondhal" stars Kishor Kadam, Ishita Deshmukh, Yogesh Sohoni, Nishad Bhoir and Anuj Prabhu. The film is set against the backdrop of the traditional Maharashtrian Gondhal ritual, a night-long folk performance involving music, dance and mythology, grounding its narrative in a distinctly regional cultural tradition that offers international audiences a window into a lesser-known aspect of Maharashtrian folk heritage.
