Santosh Davakhar, the debut filmmaker behind Gondhal — India's official entry for the Academy Awards — has responded to director Anurag Kashyap's criticism that India consistently selects the wrong films for the Oscars. Davakhar's rebuttal, posted on social media on Wednesday, 23 September, urges critics and audiences alike to watch the film before forming a judgement.

The Flight Encounter Davakhar Recalls

Davakhar recounted a personal interaction with Kashyap aboard a Bengaluru-Mumbai flight on 26 April at 23:55, during which he introduced the film to the celebrated director. According to Davakhar, Kashyap acknowledged he had neither heard of nor seen Gondhal but promised to watch it.

'I deeply respect Anurag Kashyap Sir and his filmmaking. On the Bengaluru-Mumbai flight on 26 April at 23:55, I introduced GONDHAL to him. He said he hadn't heard of or watched it but would definitely do so. Since then, it has neither been publicly available nor screened in Mumbai,' Davakhar wrote.

The Core Grievance: Limited Access to the Film

Central to Davakhar's defence is the argument that Gondhal has not been publicly screened or made available in Mumbai since his meeting with Kashyap — making it difficult, he implies, for influential voices to have actually watched the film. He described Gondhal as a psychological thriller blending Marathi culture with global appeal, crafted specifically for the theatrical experience rather than OTT platforms.

'Made by a debut filmmaker from outside the film fraternity, GONDHAL is a psychological thriller blending Marathi culture with global appeal. It is created for the big screen — not OTT. We understand the responsibility of representing India and will not let our country down. Please watch it in theatres upon its upcoming re-release,' he appealed.

What Anurag Kashyap Had Said

The controversy traces back to remarks made by Anurag Kashyap to a media platform, in which he stated that India routinely fails at major international award shows, including the Oscars, by selecting the wrong films. He cited past oversights involving critically acclaimed titles such as 'The Lunchbox' and 'All We Imagine As Light' as examples of missed opportunities.

Kashyap also outlined what he considers the minimum criteria for a credible Oscars entry: the film should have either screened at an international festival outside India or secured American distribution. He specifically advised that 'Gondhal should first try to get seen across festivals.'

The Broader Debate Around India's Oscars Selection

The exchange reignites a recurring debate in Indian cinema about the Film Federation of India's selection process. Critics have long argued that jury decisions favour prestige or political considerations over international marketability and festival traction. Kashyap's remarks echo a sentiment voiced after 'The Lunchbox' — widely regarded as one of India's strongest Oscars prospects — was bypassed in 2013. 'All We Imagine As Light', which went on to win the Grand Prix at Cannes 2024, was similarly not chosen as India's official entry, drawing widespread criticism.

Davakhar's response keeps the spotlight on Gondhal ahead of its reported theatrical re-release, framing the film's limited distribution as the crux of the dispute rather than its artistic merit. Whether the controversy translates into wider visibility for the film — and ultimately into Oscars consideration — remains to be seen.