The Film Federation of India (FFI) has selected the Marathi-language feature Gondhal as the country’s official submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the upcoming 99th Academy Awards. The announcement was made following jury deliberations in Mumbai on Friday. Directed by Santosh Davakhar, the film stars Kishor Kadam, Ishita Deshmukh, Yogesh Sohoni, Nishad Bhoir, and Anuj Prabhu. The narrative is centered around the traditional Maharashtrian folk ritual of the same name—a night-long cultural performance that combines mythology, music, and dramatic dance. Gondhal emerged as the final choice from a pool of 33 competing Indian titles, surpassing notable contenders such as Border 2, Main Vaapas Aaunga, Dhurandhar, 120 Bahadur, Gandhi Talks, and Ikkis. This marks the fourth time a Marathi-language film has represented India at the Oscars, following previous selections Shwaas (2004), Harishchandrachi Factory (2009), and Court (2015). India’s submission for the previous 98th edition was Neeraj Ghaywan’s drama Homebound, which reached the 15-film international shortlist. Ceremony Timeline Eligibility Window: January 1 – December 31, 2026 Official Nominations: January 21, 2027 Awards Presentation: March 14, 2027, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, with Conan O’Brien returning to host for his third consecutive year. Post navigation ‘You+Me – Against the World’ Ending Explained: Unpacking the Finale of Prime Video’s French Romance Thriller
