Writer-director Santosh Davakhar's psychological thriller 'Gondhal' has unveiled its global trailer, offering audiences a first look at a story deeply rooted in Maharashtra's cultural traditions. The film, set for a worldwide theatrical release on 13 November 2026, weaves together desire, duty, and devotion in a narrative built around a newly married couple drawn into a web of unsettling events.

What the Trailer Reveals

The trailer centres on Suman and Anandrao, a recently married couple whose lives are upended by a collision of personal desires, family obligations, and deeply held religious beliefs. A succession of mysterious occurrences leaves them — and the viewer — uncertain about what forces are truly at work. The visual language draws heavily on Maharashtra's folk traditions, presenting them not as backdrop but as the film's emotional core.

Davakhar on Culture and Cinema

Speaking about the film's intent, Davakhar said, 'Global perceptions of Indian cinema are often shaped by narratives of poverty and caste conflict — important realities, but not the complete expression of India.' He added: 'Gondhal is not a film but generations of culture, people, traditions coming together. Getting the world to know about this tradition is something that makes me immensely happy. Global festivals like the Academy Awards help filmmakers bring forth the ethnicity of our very roots across continents and not only in India. To experience India in its truest form. I created this film to bring one such powerful tradition to the global screen through a culturally authentic and universal cinematic language.'

A Historic Multilingual Release

According to the makers, 'Gondhal' will be the first Marathi film to receive a worldwide theatrical release across seven languages — Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and English. Screenings are planned across India, the US, the UK, Europe, Australia, Dubai, and Africa, marking an unusually wide distribution footprint for a regional Indian production.

Cast and Context

The film stars Ishita Deshmukh, Kishor Kadam, Yogesh Sohani, and Nishad Bhoir. Notably, the choice of the 'Gondhal' tradition — a ritualistic folk performance integral to Maharashtrian devotional culture — as the film's thematic anchor signals a growing appetite among Indian filmmakers for stories that foreground regional heritage on a global stage. This comes amid rising international attention on the diversity of Indian storytelling beyond mainstream Bollywood.

What to Watch For

With its global ambitions and a release date of 13 November 2026, the film enters a competitive theatrical window. Whether its culturally specific premise translates to international audiences will be a closely watched test case for Marathi cinema's global reach.