India’s Oscar entry ‘Gondhal’ to release in theatres on November 13

Santosh Davakhar’s Marathi thriller Gondhal, India’s official entry for the 99th Academy Awards, will release pan-India on November 13 in six languages, including Hindi and Tamil.

Written, directed and produced under Davakhar Films, the film will be released in Marathi, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada.

“When we set out to make Gondhal, our only goal was to stay fiercely true to the raw culture, haunting rhythms, and untold layers of our soil. To see this deeply rooted folk-thriller resonate so profoundly that it becomes India's official Oscar entry is an overwhelming honor. Now, bringing it to audiences across the country on November 13 in a Pan-India release feels like bringing the story back full circle,” Davakhar said in a statement.

“Cinema has no language barriers when the emotion is raw and honest, and I am filled with immense gratitude that viewers from every corner of India will get to experience this sacred, suspenseful journey on the big screen together,” he added.

Set in rural Maharashtra, Gondhal explores a web of obsession and betrayal centred on Suman, a young woman trapped in an unhappy marriage. Seeking a way out, she exploits her lover Sarjerao's deep, fanatical obsession with the traditional Gondhal ritual.

As the overnight folk ritual unfolds under the cover of darkness, local power struggles, hidden motives and secret betrayals collide, turning a sacred village night into a dangerous game of crime and consequence before dawn, according to the film's official synopsis.

The film stars Kishor Kadam, Ishitaa Deshmukh, Yogesh Sohoni, Nishad Bhoir and Anuj Prabhu. Renowned composer Ilaiyaraaja has composed the music, while Amalendu Chaudhary is the cinematographer.

On September 18, the Film Federation of India (FFI) selected Gondhal to represent India in the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards.