Marathi cinema is heading to the Oscars with Gondhal , a thriller built around one of Maharashtra's distinctive traditional ritual performances. The film, written and directed by Santosh Davakhar, has been selected as India's official entry for the 99th Academy Awards in 2027. It was chosen from 33 films considered by the Film Federation of India.
The title comes from Gondhal, a ritual folk tradition involving music, dance, devotional singing and deity worship. The tradition is particularly associated with night-time performances and is often connected with important family occasions, including marriages. Maharashtra's historical Gazetteer records Gondhal performances being held at night after joyful family events, with dancers singing and performing before an image of the goddess and a lamp.
