The selection of the Marathi film Gondhal as India’s official entry for the 2027 Oscars has sparked a fresh debate after filmmaker Anurag Kashyap questioned the country’s Oscar selection process.
Kashyap recently discussed India’s history with the Academy Awards and argued that the country has sometimes failed to select films that could have represented Indian cinema effectively on the international stage. His comments also mentioned films such as The Lunchbox and All We Imagine as Light.
Responding to the remarks, Gondhal director Santosh Davakhar asked audiences to watch his film before reaching a conclusion about its Oscar selection.
Santosh Davakhar Says He Had Introduced Gondhal to Kashyap
Davakhar said he deeply respects Anurag Kashyap and his filmmaking. He recalled meeting Kashyap on a Bengaluru-Mumbai flight on April 26, where he introduced him to Gondhal.
According to Davakhar, Kashyap told him that he had not heard of or watched the film but would definitely watch it. Davakhar subsequently pointed out that the film had not been publicly available or screened in Mumbai at that point.
The director used this context while responding to the debate around the film's Oscar selection.
He appealed to audiences to watch Gondhal before passing a verdict on whether it deserved to represent India.
“Please Watch the Film Before Passing a Verdict”
Davakhar described Gondhal as a psychological thriller that blends Marathi culture with elements intended to appeal to audiences beyond the region.
He also highlighted that the film comes from a debut filmmaker who is not from the traditional film fraternity.
The director said the movie was created for the big screen rather than an OTT platform and emphasised the responsibility attached to representing India at the Academy Awards.
His response focused on giving the film an opportunity to be seen before its selection is evaluated.
What Did Anurag Kashyap Say?
Anurag Kashyap recently spoke about India's performance and selection process for the Oscars during an interview.
When asked why India has struggled to secure recognition in the Best International Feature Film category, Kashyap said he believed the country had selected the wrong films on several occasions.
He specifically referred to The Lunchbox and All We Imagine as Light, saying that India had missed opportunities with films he believed could have been stronger selections.
Kashyap also acknowledged that he had not watched Gondhal at the time of his comments.
His criticism was therefore directed largely at the selection process and India's broader Oscar strategy rather than based on a viewing of the Marathi film itself.
Kashyap Suggested International Festival Exposure
Kashyap also discussed the importance of giving Indian films greater international exposure before launching an Oscar campaign.
According to the filmmaker, Indian cinema needs to build visibility at international film festivals and establish an audience outside India.
He suggested that films seeking international recognition should first travel through important festivals and create awareness among global viewers.
His comments reflect his broader view that an Oscar campaign involves more than simply selecting a film as India's official entry.
Gondhal Becomes India’s Official Oscar Entry
Gondhal was selected as India's official submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards.
The Film Federation of India selected the Marathi film from 33 submissions.
Written and directed by Santosh Davakhar, the psychological thriller is rooted in Maharashtra's traditional Gondhal ritual and folk-performance traditions.
The film features Ishita Deshmukh, Yogesh Sohoni, Kishor Kadam, Suresh Vishwakarma, Nishad Bhoir, Anuj Prabhu and Vitthal Kale in key roles.
The selection makes Gondhal the fourth Marathi film to represent India in the international feature category at the Oscars.
The Film Already Has Festival Recognition
Before its Oscar selection, Gondhal had already received recognition at the International Film Festival of India.
Santosh Davakhar won the Silver Peacock for Best Director at the 56th IFFI in 2025.
The recognition gave the film an important festival achievement before it was selected as India's official Oscar entry.
The film was released in November 2025 and has now received renewed attention following its selection for the Academy Awards.
Gondhal Is a Marathi Psychological Thriller
The story of Gondhal draws heavily from Maharashtra's cultural traditions. The title itself refers to a traditional ritual and folk performance associated with the region.
The film uses that cultural background within a psychological thriller framework, creating a story that combines local traditions with a suspense-driven narrative.
Davakhar has described the project as a film made with a broader audience in mind while retaining its Marathi cultural identity.
The Oscar selection has consequently brought the film to the attention of audiences beyond Maharashtra.
The Team Plans a Wider Release
Following its selection as India's Oscar entry, the makers are also preparing to expand the film's reach.
The team has completed dubbed versions of Gondhal in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. Plans for releasing these versions are reportedly being worked out, with further details expected to be announced by the makers.
A wider release could allow more Indian audiences to watch the film before its international awards campaign progresses.
This development also addresses one of the key points raised by Davakhar: giving audiences an opportunity to see the film before forming an opinion about it.
Anurag Kashyap and Davakhar Have Different Perspectives
The current discussion involves two separate perspectives on the film and India's Oscar strategy.
Kashyap has questioned India's broader selection process and argued for greater international exposure for Indian films before major awards campaigns.
Davakhar, meanwhile, has defended Gondhal and asked audiences to evaluate the film after watching it.
Neither position changes the official fact that the Film Federation of India selected Gondhal from the submitted films to represent India at the 99th Academy Awards.
The film will now enter the international awards process, where its journey will continue alongside submissions from other countries.
What Happens Next for Gondhal?
With Gondhal officially representing India, the next stage will involve the film's international awards campaign and its consideration alongside submissions from other countries.
The Academy will subsequently determine which films advance through the various stages of the Best International Feature Film selection process.
For now, the debate surrounding the film has brought additional attention to its story, director and cultural background.
Davakhar's request remains straightforward: watch Gondhal before deciding what to make of its Oscar selection.
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