'Gondhal' named India's Oscar entry for 99th Academy Awards
Synopsis
Despite facing 33 contenders including Diljit Dosanjh and Ranveer Singh starrers, the jury chose a quiet, culturally rooted Marathi folk-ritual drama — 'Gondhal' — as India's Oscar entry for 2027. It is only the fourth Marathi film ever to carry the national flag to the Academy Awards, following 'Shwaas', 'Harishchandrachi Factory', and 'Court'.
Key Takeaways
'Gondhal' , directed by Santosh Davakhar , is India's official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards .
The Film Federation of India selected it from a pool of 33 competing films on 18 September 2026 .
It is only the 4th Marathi film to represent India at the Oscars, after 'Shwaas' , 'Harishchandrachi Factory' , and 'Court' .
The film stars Kishor Kadam , Ishita Deshmukh , Yogesh Sohoni , Nishad Bhoir , and Anuj Prabhu , and is set against the traditional Maharashtrian Gondhal folk ritual.
The 99th Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled for 14 March 2027 at the Dolby Theatre , Los Angeles; nominations will be announced on 21 January 2027 .
India's previous entry, 'Homebound' (directed by Neeraj Ghaywan ), had made the 15-film Oscars shortlist at the 98th ceremony.
Marathi-language film 'Gondhal' has been selected by the Film Federation of India (FFI) as the country's official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards. The announcement was made in Mumbai on Friday, 18 September 2026, with the jury choosing director Santosh Davakhar's film over 33 competing titles.
About the Film
'Gondhal' is set against the backdrop of the traditional Maharashtrian Gondhal ritual — a night-long folk performance woven from music, dance, and mythology. The film features an ensemble cast including Kishor Kadam, Ishita Deshmukh, Yogesh Sohoni, Nishad Bhoir, and Anuj Prabhu. Its selection signals a continued jury preference for films that draw on regional cultural depth rather than mainstream commercial appeal.
A Historic Milestone for Marathi Cinema
'Gondhal' becomes only the 4th Marathi film to represent India at the Academy Awards, following the celebrated precedents of 'Shwaas', 'Harishchandrachi Factory', and 'Court'. Each of those films was widely acclaimed on the international festival circuit, underlining Marathi cinema's recurring ability to punch above its weight on the global stage.
The Competition It Beat
The shortlist of 33 films included a number of high-profile commercial productions. Among the titles in contention were the Diljit Dosanjh-starrer 'Main Vaapas Aaunga', 'Border 2', the Ranveer Singh-starrer 'Dhurandhar', as well as 'Dug Dug', 'Haq', '120 Bahadur', 'Gandhi Talks', '2020 Delhi', 'Ikkis', and several regional-language films including 'Peddi', 'Irumudi', 'Bison Kalaamadan', and 'Shape of Momo', among others. The jury's decision to select a culturally rooted Marathi independent film over multiple big-budget entries is notable.
India's Oscar Journey and What Comes Next
India's previous official entry, director Neeraj Ghaywan's drama 'Homebound' — starring Vishal Jethwa and Ishaan Khatter — had represented the country at the 98th Academy Awards and subsequently made the prestigious 15-film Oscars shortlist for International Feature Film. 'Gondhal' now faces a similar path: to first secure a place in the 15-film shortlist announced in December, before aiming for a nomination slot in January. The 99th Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled for 14 March 2027 at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, with Conan O'Brien returning as host for a third consecutive year. Nominations are set to be announced on 21 January 2027. The eligibility period covers films released between 1 January and 31 December 2026. Notably, this ceremony precedes the landmark 100th Academy Awards in 2028.
Point of View
Artistically restrained cinema rather than scale and star power. The history mostly supports this — 'Court' earned critical attention internationally while bigger-budget entries have rarely made the shortlist. But the approach is not without critics, who argue that India has never won or even come close to winning, and that higher-profile entries might at least build global brand awareness for Indian cinema. The real test for 'Gondhal' will come in December, when the Academy announces its 15-film shortlist — the threshold that even the well-received 'Homebound' managed to clear last year.
NationPress
18 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 'Gondhal' and why was it chosen as India's Oscar entry?
'Gondhal' is a Marathi-language film directed by Santosh Davakhar, set against the backdrop of the traditional Maharashtrian Gondhal folk ritual involving music, dance, and mythology. The Film Federation of India selected it from 33 competing titles on 18 September 2026 to represent India in the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards.
When are the 99th Academy Awards and when will nominations be announced?
The 99th Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled for 14 March 2027 at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles. Nominations will be announced on 21 January 2027, with the eligibility period covering films released between 1 January and 31 December 2026.
Which Marathi films have represented India at the Oscars before?
'Gondhal' is only the 4th Marathi film to be India's official Oscar entry. The three previous Marathi entries were 'Shwaas', 'Harishchandrachi Factory', and 'Court', all of which received significant international attention.
What was India's Oscar entry for the 98th Academy Awards?
India's official entry for the 98th Academy Awards was 'Homebound', directed by Neeraj Ghaywan and starring Vishal Jethwa and Ishaan Khatter. The film made the prestigious 15-film Oscars shortlist for International Feature Film.
Who are the other major films that were in contention for India's Oscar selection?
The shortlist of 33 films included prominent titles such as the Diljit Dosanjh-starrer 'Main Vaapas Aaunga', 'Border 2', Ranveer Singh's 'Dhurandhar', 'Dug Dug', 'Haq', '120 Bahadur', 'Gandhi Talks', 'Ikkis', and several regional-language films including 'Peddi', 'Irumudi', and 'Shape of Momo'.
