India's 2027 Oscar Entry
Marathi thriller Gondhal is selected as India’s official entry for the 2027 Oscars.
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Key Points
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The film’s plot follows Suman, a young bride whose life takes a dark turn during a wedding celebration and a night-long Gondhal ritual, framing the story as a psychological thriller centered on darker human emotions.
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The selection committee, chaired by filmmaker P. Seshadri, unanimously chose Gondhal from the 33-film field; other reported contenders included Dhurandhar, Border 2, Hanuman Ansh, Haq, Ikkis and Main Vaapas Aaunga.
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Gondhal was released theatrically in November 2025, before earning festival recognition and being chosen as India’s Oscar submission.
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No Indian film has won the Best International Feature category. India has had three nominations—Mother India, Salaam Bombay and Lagaan—while Deepa Mehta’s Water was nominated after being submitted by Canada.
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The previous Indian Oscar entry, Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound, failed to reach the final nominations, underscoring that Gondhal’s selection as the official entry does not guarantee an Academy nomination.
Marathi thriller Gondhal has been chosen as India's official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards in 2027, according to Social Ketchup. The film, written and directed by Santosh Davakhar, was selected from 33 submissions by the Film Federation of India and will compete in Los Angeles on March 14, 2027.
Gondhal follows Suman, a young bride whose life spirals into darkness during a wedding celebration and an all-night traditional Gondhal ritual in rural Maharashtra. The film stars Kishor Kadam, Ishita Deshmukh, Nishad Bhoir and Yogesh Sohoni, and previously won a Silver Peacock award at the International Film Festival of India, Mashable India reported.
Why Gondhal Beat 32 Other Indian Films
The Film Federation of India's selection committee, chaired by filmmaker P. Seshadri, unanimously voted for Gondhal over major contenders. IBTimes noted that other reported submissions included Dhurandhar, Border 2, Hanuman Ansh, Haq, Ikkis and Main Vaapas Aaunga. The committee described Gondhal as a film that blends family drama, thriller elements and everything in between.
The selection process evaluated how well each film represented Indian cinema on the global stage. ANI News reported that Gondhal impressed the selection committee through its exploration of relationships, desire, betrayal and tensions between personal choices and tradition—all woven through the lens of a traditional ritual.
A Fourth Marathi Film in India's Oscar Quest
Gondhal marks the fourth Marathi-language film selected as India's official Oscar entry. The previous three were Shwaas, Harishchandrachi Factory and Court. Marathi cinema has become a powerhouse in India's Academy Awards strategy, though none has won the Best International Feature award.
India has earned three nominations in the category—Mother India, Salaam Bombay and Lagaan—but never claimed the prize. Canada's Deepa Mehta earned a nomination for Water after submitting the film under the Canadian flag, not India's.
Selection Does Not Guarantee Oscar Nomination
Being chosen as India's official entry is a major honor but carries no guarantee of an Academy nomination. Times Now News reported that actor Nishad Bhoir called the selection "an honour," but the selection committee itself serves as only the first gate.
India's previous Oscar entry, Neeraj Ghaywan's Homebound, failed to reach the final nominations. Gondhal, released theatrically in November 2025, now faces international competition before the Academy votes on whether to nominate it.
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