Santosh Davakhar's Gondhal has been selected as India's official entry for the 99th Academy Awards in the best International Feature film category. The film federation of India selected the movie from 33 films submitted for consideration. and this one is interesting because Gondhal takes a traditional Maharashtrian folk ritual and places it right at the centre of its story.

What is Gondhal story is about?

Gondhal tells the story of SUMAN, a young married woman who is unhappy with the life she is living. Things change when Suman gets close to SAHEBA, a man connected to the traditional Gondhal performance. Their relationship grows stronger and suman starts dreaming of a life away from her marriage. Suman eventually comes up with a dangerous plan. She uses Sarjerao, her husband Anand's cousin to carry out a murder that she cannot do herself. What makes the whole situation even more intense is the way the Gondhal ritual becomes connected to the plan. The film uses the traditional Gondhal performance not just as part of the setting but as an important part of the story. The rituals, night time atmosphere and beliefs surrounding the ceremony add to the tension as Suman's plan starts falling apart. That is what makes the movie more than just a story about a relationship. It becomes a dark thriller where love, desire, faith and betrayal all come together on one dangerous night.

Who Is Behind Gondhal?

Gondhal is written by and directed by Santosh Davakhar. The cast includes Ishita Deshmukh as Suman, Yogesh Sohoni as Anand, Kishor Kadam, Suresh Vishwakarma, Nishad Bhoir, Anuj Prabhu and Vitthal Kale, among others.

the film had already received attention on the festival circuit before its Oscar selection. Davakhar won the silver peacock for best director at the 56th International Film Festival of India in 2025, while the film also received recognition at festivals including Bengaluru, Pune and the Third eye Asian International Film Festival.

This Is Not An Oscar Nomination Yet

There is one important thing to clear up. The film now moves into the Academy's selection process for the Best International Feature Film category. The official Oscars schedule lists the shortlist announcement for December 15, 2026, followed by the nominations announcement on January 21, 2027. The 99th Oscars are scheduled for March 14, 2027, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. So for now, Gondhal has secured the opportunity to represent India in the race. What happens after that will depend on the Academy's selection process.

The Takeaway
Gondhal starts with a troubled marriage, a forbidden relationship and a woman looking for a way out. But as the night progresses, things become far more complicated. It eventually makes the shortlist or the final nominations is still to be decided. For now, though, one thing is clear: a Marathi story rooted in the traditions of Maharashtra is getting a much bigger international stage.