India’s international feature Oscar contender “Gondhal” has unveiled its global trailer, advancing the campaign for the Marathi-language thriller ahead of the 99th Academy Awards.
The film marks the feature directorial debut of writer-director Santosh Davakhar. It was selected from 33 films considered for India’s submission, giving the first-time feature filmmaker a prominent place in the country’s awards-season effort.
Set across one night in rural Maharashtra, “Gondhal” builds its story around the folk ritual of the same name. The devotional tradition is performed through music, dance and theatrical storytelling, providing both the setting and cultural foundation for the film’s tragic narrative.
Ishita Deshmukh stars as Suman, a young wife trapped in an oppressive marriage. Seeking to reclaim control over her life, Suman attempts to use the fixation of her lover, Sarjerao, to her advantage. Nishad Bhoir plays Sarjerao.
But Suman’s desires collide with expectations surrounding honor and custom, and the events of the night ultimately end in tragedy. Kishor Kadam, Yogesh Sohoni and Anuj Prabhu round out the cast.
A Technically Ambitious Debut
Davakhar’s first feature also arrives with a notable formal choice: cinematographer Amalendu Chaudhary opens the film with a single, uninterrupted take lasting 25 minutes. The music and background score were written by composer Ilaiyaraaja.
The film has already brought Davakhar recognition on the festival circuit. He received the Silver Peacock for best director at the 56th International Film Festival of India. Members of the festival jury described “Gondhal” as “like a Shakespearean fable set in a real world.”
That assessment reflects the film’s combination of intimate conflict, tragic consequences and a story rooted in a specific living tradition. For Davakhar, bringing that cultural framework to international audiences was a central reason for making the film.
“Global perceptions of Indian cinema are often shaped by narratives of poverty and caste conflict – important realities, but not the complete expression of India,” the filmmaker said. “India is also a civilization of extraordinary cultural wealth, sustained by traditions, music, and collective memory. I created this film to bring one such powerful tradition to the global screen through a culturally authentic and universal cinematic language.”
Davakhar produced “Gondhal” alongside Diksha Davakhar. The pair are co-founders of Davakhar Films, the production banner behind the project. The company supports regional storytelling while pursuing high-level craftsmanship across cinematography, sound, music and performance.
ShowBiz Take
The global trailer gives “Gondhal” a new opportunity to define itself for awards voters through the very qualities that distinguish the project: a one-night dramatic structure, a culturally specific ritual, a 25-minute opening shot and a tragic story shaped by personal desire and social custom.
Its selection from a field of 33 contenders is particularly significant for a filmmaker making his feature debut. Davakhar also enters the campaign with the Silver Peacock for directing, while the film carries the additional creative weight of Ilaiyaraaja’s music and Chaudhary’s technically demanding opening sequence.
Most importantly, “Gondhal” is positioning its regional identity as a strength rather than background detail. The ritual is not merely decorative; it is the framework through which the film explores Suman’s attempt to take control of her circumstances and the devastating clash between individual longing, honor and tradition.
With the trailer now released globally, the film’s Oscar push moves forward around a clear proposition: a Marathi-language thriller grounded in rural Maharashtra, told with formal ambition and designed to carry a deeply local tradition onto an international stage.