Marathi film Gondhal selected as India's Oscar entry

The Marathi film Gondhal has been selected as India's official entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 99th Academy Awards. The Film Federation of India announced the decision on Friday, September 18, 2026, naming the psychological thriller as the country's contender for the upcoming Oscars. The selection was made by a 14-member jury of the Film Federation of India, chaired by filmmaker P. Sheshadri. According to the announcement, the committee unanimously chose Gondhal from a list of 33 submissions. Jury member Firdausul Hasan stated that the film stood out in every aspect and was better than other entries, with Ikkis and Angh among the top three considered. Directed and written by Santosh Davakhar, Gondhal is set against the backdrop of the traditional Maharashtrian Gondhal ritual. The film follows Suman, a young bride who becomes drawn to a ritual performer and hatches a dangerous scheme involving her husband's cousin. The cast includes Ishita Deshmukh, Nishad Bhoir, Yogesh Sohoni, and Kishor Kadam. The film marked Davakhar's feature directorial debut.