Mumbai, Director Santosh Davakhar says the team behind “Gondhal”, India’s official entry for the 2027 Academy Awards, were “confident” about the film’s chances and hopes its celebration of the country’s vibrant culture and heritage will resonate with international audiences.
The final five nominees will be announced by the end of January. Prior to the award ceremony, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is scheduled to announce a 15-film shortlist for the International Feature Film category in December, followed by nominations voting in January, 2027.
Davakhar said they are now working towards an extensive promotional campaign in the US ahead of the awards show, which will take place on March 14, 2027. Set against the backdrop of Gondhal, a traditional ritual of rural Maharashtra featuring music, dance and mythology, the film revolves around a newlywed couple. “We’ve a culture that we are proud of and we’ve all brought that out in our film in a different way. The film stars acclaimed actors Kishor Kadam, Suresh Vishwakarma, alongside newcomers like Ishita Deshmukh and Nishad Bhoir, among others. The music is scored by the veteran composer Ilaiyaraaja.
It is one of the best crime thriller films,” the director, who previously made short films such as “Adnyat”, “Antar 19” and “Ajanvruksha” said. For both the Indian and international audiences who have not watched “Gondhal”, Davakhar said his film offers an opportunity to experience India’s rich heritage and described it as “a gem”. Last year, director Neeraj Ghaywan’s pandemic drama “Homebound” was India’s official entry for the Academy Awards and it made it to the 15-film shortlist but failed to secure a spot among the final five nominees.
