Mumbai, Sept 19: Marathi film Gondhal, directed by Santosh Davakhar, has been selected as India’s official entry for the 99th Academy Awards. The announcement was made in Mumbai on Friday, September 18, with the Film Federation of India (FFI) jury choosing the film from 33 contenders.
The films in contention included Main Vaapas Aaunga, Border 2, Dhurandhar, Dug Dug, Haq, Bhamardo, 120 Bahadur, Tera Mera Nata, Ladoo, Gandhi Talks, Ikkis, Pravas, Obsess and Hanuman Ansh, among others.
The 14-member selection committee was headed by filmmaker P Sheshadri. It included actor-director-producer Vijay Patkar, actor-director Hitu Kanodia, cinematographer Sanjib Parasar, actor Tannishtha Chatterjee and producer Firdausul Hasan, among others.
Starring Kishor Kadam, Ishita Deshmukh, Yogesh Sohoni, Nishad Bhoir and Anuj Prabhu, Gondhal is rooted in the traditional Maharashtrian Gondhal ritual, a night-long folk performance featuring music, dance and mythology. The story begins with a wedding celebration before unfolding into a darker tale of desire, jealousy, betrayal and hidden tensions in a village.
Gondhal marks Santosh Davakhar’s feature directorial debut. The film premiered at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, where it won the Silver Peacock for Special Jury recognition.
The film was released theatrically in November 2025, although its box-office performance was relatively modest compared with its festival reception.
The selection now moves to the Academy’s International Feature Film process. The Academy will first announce a 15-film shortlist before selecting the final five nominees. The 99th Academy Awards are scheduled to be held on March 14, 2027.
