Marathi film Gondhalwritten and directed by Santosh Davakhar, has been selected as India’s official entry for the 99th Academy Awards, the Film Federation of India (FFI) announced on Friday.
The film will compete in the Best International Feature Film category at the Oscars 2027. It was selected from a list of 33 films submitted for consideration this year.
Set against the backdrop of Maharashtra’s traditional Gondhal ritual, the Marathi thriller explores relationships, desire, betrayal and deception. The story follows Suman, a married woman whose life takes an unexpected turn as she becomes caught in a complicated situation involving relationships and difficult choices.
What begins as a story rooted in everyday relationships gradually develops into a thriller as Suman finds herself trapped in difficult circumstances and attempts to find a way out. The film also brings Maharashtra’s centuries-old folk tradition to the forefront.
Gondhal stars Kishor Kadam, Ishita Deshmukh, Yogesh Sohoni, Nishad Bhoir, Anuj Prabhu and others. Veteran composer Ilaiyaraaja has composed the music for the film.
The film has already received recognition on the festival circuit. Davakhar won the Silver Peacock for Best Director at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in 2025. Gondhal also had its world premiere at IFFI in Goa.
This marks the fourth time a Marathi film has been selected as India’s official Oscar entry, following Shwas (2005), Harishchandrachi Factory (2009) and Court (2015).
India’s previous official Oscar entry was Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homeboundwhich was submitted for the 2026 Academy Awards but did not secure a final nomination.
The 99th Academy Awards are scheduled to take place on March 14, 2027, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.