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Oscars 2027: ‘Gondhal’ Selected As India’s Entry, ‘Dhurandhar’ Among Major Films That Missed The Cut
Marathi cinema has made its mark in India's Oscar selection once again. Santosh Davakhar's Marathi thriller 'Gondhal' has been chosen as India's official entry for the 99th Academy Awards, where it will compete in the Best International Feature Film category. The Film Federation of India (FFI) announced the selection on September 18, 2026, after considering 33 films submitted for the country's Oscar entry.
The selection also comes after considerable attention around several major contenders, including Ranveer Singh-starrer 'Dhurandhar' and 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge'.
What Is 'Gondhal' About?
Written and directed by Santosh Davakhar, 'Gondhal' is set in rural Maharashtra against the backdrop of the traditional Gondhal ritual and folk-performance tradition. The story follows Suman, a woman trapped in an oppressive marriage, whose relationship with her forbidden lover leads to a dangerous plan involving murder and escape.
The film explores themes of faith, tradition, desire, deception and fate. Ishita Deshmukh leads the cast, alongside actors including Kishor Kadam, Yogesh Sohoni, Nishad Bhoir and Anuj Prabhu. Veteran composer Ilaiyaraaja has scored the music.
'Dhurandhar' Was Among The 33 Films Considered
The FFI jury considered 33 films before selecting 'Gondhal'. The list included several high-profile Hindi releases, including 'Dhurandhar', 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge', 'Border 2', 'Haq', '120 Bahadur' and 'Main Vaapas Aaunga'.
'Dhurandhar', starring Ranveer Singh and directed by Aditya Dhar, attracted particular attention because of its scale and popularity. However, it did not make the final selection.
FFI jury member Vivek Vaswani later said that 'Dhurandhar' received four votes from the 14-member jury. He also told NDTV that while some jury members liked the film, they did not consider it "Oscar material." These comments reflect one jury member's explanation of the selection process rather than an official Academy assessment of the film.
'Gondhal's' Previous Recognition
The Oscar selection adds to the film's festival recognition. Davakhar won the Silver Peacock for Best Director for 'Gondhal' at the 56th International Film Festival of India in 2025. The film also received Best Director and Best Cinematographer honours at the 24th Pune International Film Festival in 2026.
A Fourth Marathi Film In India's Oscar Journey
'Gondhal' becomes the fourth Marathi film selected as India's official Oscar entry, after 'Shwaas' (2005), 'Harishchandrachi Factory' (2009) and 'Court' (2015).
The selection is only the beginning of 'Gondhal's' Oscar journey. It is India's official entry, not yet an Oscar nominee. The Academy is scheduled to announce its International Feature Film shortlist on December 15, 2026, followed by nominations on January 21, 2027. The 99th Academy Awards are scheduled for March 14, 2027.
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