Oscar 2027: The decision regarding which film will represent India at the 2027 Oscars has been made. The Film Federation of India has selected the Marathi film ‘Gondhal’ as India’s official entry. The film will now represent the country in the Best International Feature Film category. A total of 33 films across various Indian languages were in the running for the Oscars this year, from which ‘Gondhal’ was chosen.
This is a significant achievement for Marathi cinema. The film’s storyline, rural setting, and thriller treatment set it apart during the selection process. However, being selected as India’s official entry does not guarantee a final Oscar nomination; the film must now undergo the Academy’s subsequent selection stages.
What is the story of ‘Gondhal’?
The story of ‘Gondhal’ is set against the backdrop of rural Maharashtra, with the traditional ‘Gondhal’ ritual playing a pivotal role in the plot. The protagonist, Suman, is married to the wealthy Anand but shares an emotional bond with a ‘Gondhali’ artist named Saheba.
To break free from this situation, Suman devises a risky plan. She exploits the obsession Anand’s cousin, Sarjerao, has for her, manipulating him into committing a crime she cannot execute herself. The narrative then unfolds amidst themes of love, greed, deceit, power, and the yearning for freedom, gradually evolving into a psychological thriller.
Elements such as the all-night ‘Gondhal’ ritual, the music, and the religious ceremonies serve to reinforce the film’s atmospheric setting.
Who is in the film?
‘Gondhal’ is directed by Santosh Davkhar, who also penned the story and screenplay. The film features Kishore Kadam, Ishita Deshmukh, Yogesh Sohoni, and Nishad Bhoir in lead roles. Apart from them, Suresh Vishwakarma, Anuj Prabhu, Madhavi Juvekar, Aishwarya Shinde, Kailash Waghmare, Poonam Patil, and Vitthal Kale also appear in key roles.
The film received an IMDb rating of 8.9. It garnered a positive response from both audiences and critics regarding its storyline and presentation.
Box Office Collection of ₹84 Lakh
‘Gondhal’ was released in theaters on November 14, 2025. This Marathi film, with a runtime of approximately two hours, did not achieve major commercial success. According to Sacnilk data, the film collected around ₹84 lakh (net) and approximately ₹90 lakh (gross) in India.
However, despite limited earnings at the box office, the film gained recognition in the film festival circuit. Santosh Davkhar received the Silver Peacock Award for Best Director for ‘Gondhal’ at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
‘Gondhal’ Selected from 33 Films
A total of 33 films were in contention for India’s Oscar entry this year. These included 14 Hindi films, four Marathi films, four Telugu films, four Gujarati films, and three Tamil films. Additionally, one film each in Malayalam and Nagami languages was part of the selection process.
After evaluating all these films, a 13-member jury selected ‘Gondhal’ as India’s official entry.
Decision Made by a 13-Member Jury
A 13-member jury was constituted by the Film Federation of India to determine India’s Oscar entry. The jury included P. Seshadri, Vijay Patkar, Hitu Kanodia, Shanti Kumar, Sandeep Parashar, Sanjay Patil, Sabu Joseph, Anil Thomas, Vivek Vaswani, Bijon Dasgupta, Hasan, Vasan, and Tannishtha Chatterjee.
The jury evaluated the storyline, direction, cinematic presentation, and other aspects of the films submitted for Oscar consideration. Subsequently, it was decided to submit ‘Gondhal’ as India’s entry. Now, the film’s focus will shift to the next stage of the Oscar selection process.
