Marathi film Gondhal, directed by Santosh Davakhar, has been selected as India’s official entry for the 99th Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category.
The Film Federation of India (FFI) announced the selection on Friday, with Gondhal chosen from 33 submissions representing multiple Indian languages. The film marks the fourth Marathi-language production to represent India in the Oscar race, following Shwaas (2005), Harishchandrachi Factory (2009) and Court (2015).
Set in rural Maharashtra, Gondhal unfolds over a single night during the traditional Gondhal ritual, a folk performance combining music, dance, mythology and religious elements. The thriller follows Suman (Ishita Deshmukh), a woman seeking to escape her unhappy marriage to wealthy Anand. Her relationship with Gondhali performer Saheba sets a dangerous chain of events involving Anand’s obsessive cousin Sarjerao, leading to murder, deception and survival.
The film also stars Kishor Kadam, Yogesh Sohoni, Nishad Bhoir and Anuj Prabhu. Davakhar previously won the Silver Peacock for Best Director at the 56th International Film Festival of India in 2025 for the film.
Gondhal will now enter the Academy’s International Feature Film selection process, which includes a 15-film shortlist before the final five nominees are announced.
The 99th Academy Awards are scheduled for March 14, 2027, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
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