Gondhal, India's Oscar Entry, Is Coming to a Cinema Near You: All About the One-Night Marathi Thriller
There's a particular kind of film that makes you lean forward in your seat. Not because something is exploding, but because you can feel something terrible is about to happen and you can't look away.
Gondhal looks like that kind of film.
The Marathi psychological thriller, which is India's official submission for the 2027 Oscars, releases across India on 13 November. And if you missed it the first time around, this is your chance.
The story in one breath
It all happens over a single night, during a Gondhal, the traditional folk ritual of rural Maharashtra, full of music, dance and mythology.
At the centre is Suman, a young woman trapped in an unhappy marriage, and her lover Sarjerao, who is obsessed with the ritual. Suman uses that obsession to try to escape her life, and as the night goes on, power struggles, secrets and betrayals turn a sacred celebration into a deadly game. By dawn, nothing will be the same.
One night. One ritual. No escape. That's my kind of thriller.
The team
Written, directed and produced by: Santosh Davakhar, under Davakhar Films
Music: the one and only Ilaiyaraaja
Cinematography: Amalendu Chaudhary
Cast: Kishor Kadam, Ishitaa Deshmukh, Yogesh Sohoni, Nishad Bhoir and Anuj Prabhu
Yes, you read that right. Ilaiyaraaja scoring a Marathi folk thriller. The man has composed for more than a thousand films across languages, and the idea of him working with the drums and rhythms of a Gondhal is honestly enough for me to buy a ticket.
The road to the Oscars
Gondhal didn't come from nowhere.
It premiered in the Indian Panorama section at the 56th International Film Festival of India in Goa in 2025, where Davakhar won the Silver Peacock for Best Director.
On 18 September 2026, the Film Federation of India picked it as India's official entry for Best International Feature Film at the 99th Academy Awards. It was chosen from 33 submissions across languages and genres.
That last bit matters. Beating 32 other films, including some very big names, with a regional, ritual-driven thriller tells you the jury was looking for something distinctly Indian. We've followed the team's Oscar journey closely, and the pride around this film is real.
Why the 13 November release is a big deal
The film first opened in Marathi cinemas in 2025. This new release is pan-India, in Marathi, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada.
That's huge. For a regional film carrying India's Oscar hopes, reaching audiences beyond Maharashtra builds conversation, and conversation builds campaigns. Every Oscar push needs people talking.
It's also a quiet win for Marathi cinema, which has been making some of India's most interesting films for years without always getting the national spotlight.
Should you watch it?
If you like slow-burn tension, folk culture, morally messy characters and a story that unfolds in real time, absolutely.
And if you care about Indian cinema's chances at the Oscars, showing up in theatres is the simplest way to back it. Gondhal is also the closing film at this year's Jagran Film Festival in Mumbai, so the buzz is already building.
13 November. One night. Go.
Frequently asked questions
When does Gondhal release?
Gondhal releases pan-India on 13 November in Marathi, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada.
Is Gondhal India's official Oscar entry?
Yes. On 18 September 2026, the Film Federation of India selected Gondhal as India's official entry for Best International Feature Film at the 99th Academy Awards, from 33 submissions.
Who directed Gondhal?
Santosh Davakhar wrote, directed and produced the film. He won the Silver Peacock for Best Director at the 56th International Film Festival of India in Goa.
Who composed the music for Gondhal?
Gondhal's music is by Ilaiyaraaja.
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