Marathi Film Gondhal Is India’s Official Entry for Oscars 2027

India has selected the Marathi-language film Gondhal as its official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards, scheduled for March 14, 2027.

The Film Federation of India (FFI) announced the selection on September 18, choosing Santosh Davakhar’s film from 33 submissions.

A Marathi Film Set in Rural Maharashtra

Written and directed by Santosh Davakhar, Gondhal is set in rural Maharashtra and centres on the traditional Gondhal ritual and folk-performance tradition.

The story unfolds over a single night around a newly married couple and explores relationships, personal aspirations, tradition and human conflict. Reports describe the film as a psychological thriller rooted in Maharashtra's cultural setting.

The principal cast includes Ishita Deshmukh, Yogesh Sohoni, Kishor Kadam, Suresh Vishwakarma, Nishad Bhoir, Anuj Prabhu and Vitthal Kale.

Selected From 33 Films

The FFI selection committee considered 33 films before choosing Gondhal.

The submissions represented several Indian languages, with Hindi, Marathi, Telugu and Gujarati films among those entered for consideration. The final selection puts the Marathi film forward as India's submission for the International Feature Film category.

The selection committee was chaired by filmmaker P. Sheshadri, who said the panel watched all 33 submitted films during its selection process.

Recognition Before the Oscar Selection

Gondhal had already received recognition on the festival circuit before becoming India's Oscar entry.

Davakhar won the Silver Peacock for Best Director at the 56th International Film Festival of India in 2025. The film has also received recognition at festivals including the Pune International Film Festival and Bengaluru International Film Festival.

The film was originally released theatrically in November 2025.

What the Oscar Selection Means

Being chosen as India's official entry does not mean Gondhal has already received an Oscar nomination.

Under the Academy's current rules, an official country selection must first be submitted and determined eligible by the Academy. The International Feature Film category then goes through a preliminary voting process that produces a shortlist before the final nominations are announced.

For the 99th Oscars, the Academy's preliminary voting is scheduled for December 7–11, 2026, with the International Feature Film shortlist scheduled for December 15. Oscar nominations are scheduled to be announced on January 21, 2027. The ceremony will take place on March 14, 2027.

Fourth Marathi Film Chosen by India

The selection also adds Gondhal to the history of Marathi cinema's representation in India's Oscar submissions.

Earlier Marathi-language films selected by India include Court, Harishchandrachi Factory and Shwaas. The Film Federation of India's historical submission list records Court as India's 2015 selection for the 88th Academy Awards.

The Oscar Campaign Begins

Davakhar has said preparations for the international campaign are already underway. According to The Indian Express, his team has assembled a media and PR team in Los Angeles as it prepares to present the film during the Oscar season.

The film's selection brings a story rooted in Maharashtra's folk traditions into the international awards process. Its next stage will depend on Academy eligibility, preliminary voting and the subsequent shortlist and nomination process.

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