Gondhal
Sacred Obsession
A suffocating young bride, Suman, uses her lover Sarjerao's obsession with the Gondhal ritual and turns a sacred tradition into a deadly chess match.
Marathi · 2h 00m · 2025 · A Davakhar Films production
India's Official Entry
99th Academy Awards · Best International Feature Film
Selected unanimously by the Film Federation of India from 33 submissions on 18 September 2026.
Awards & FestivalsThe Film
A single night. A sacred ritual.
Set against the vibrant backdrop of rural Maharashtra, Gondhal unfolds over a single night during a sacred folk ritual that has bound communities together for generations. Beneath the devotional music, ancient traditions and collective celebration lies a story of forbidden desire, deception and survival.
- Language
- Marathi · English subtitles
- Runtime
- 2h 00m
- Director
- Santosh Davakhar
- Music
- Ilaiyaraaja
- Released
- 14 November 2025
Trailer
Watch the trailer
The trailer plays in an embedded YouTube player on this page.
Marathi with English subtitles · Opens in an embedded YouTube player
Watch the teaser (YouTube, opens in a new tab)Cast & Crew
The people of Gondhal
- Santosh DavakharWriter & Director · Producer
- Kishor KadamBhivaba
- Ishita DeshmukhSuman
- Yogesh SohoniAnanda
- Nishad BhoirSarjerao
- Anuj PrabhuSahebrao
- Suresh VishwakarmaAabasaheb Patil
- Kailash WaghmareMhorkya
- Dhruv ThokeVishnu
Music by IlaiyaraajaCinematography Amalendu ChaudharyEditing Ashish Mhatre
Awards & Festivals
Recognition
99th Academy Awards
India's Official Entry
Best International Feature Film
Selected unanimously by the Film Federation of India from 33 submissions on 18 September 2026.
Silver Peacock
Best Director
56th International Film Festival of India
2025
Winner
FIPRESCI Award
Best Film
17th Bengaluru International Film Festival
2026
Winner
Best Director
Pune International Film Festival 2026
2026
Winner
Filmfare Award Marathi
Best Screenplay
Filmfare Awards Marathi 2026
2026
WinnerGallery
Stills & posters
Gondhali performers circle the stage with lit torches as the village looks on.© Davakhar Films Suman (Ishita Deshmukh) and Ananda (Yogesh Sohoni) on their wedding night.© Davakhar Films The Gondhal begins: a torch burns before the stage as the goddess is invoked.© Davakhar Films The village shares a meal by lantern light before the night-long ritual.© Davakhar Films The Patil wada at night, decorated for the ceremony.© Davakhar Films A lone figure at the river's edge in the blue hour before dawn.© Davakhar Films Official key art — India's Official Entry to the 99th Academy Awards.© Davakhar Films Teaser announcement artwork — teaser released with Kantara: Chapter 1.© Davakhar Films
What critics are saying
Polished and expertly paced, the feature grabs viewers by the throat from minute one.
Signals the arrival of a sophisticated new voice in Indian cinema.
Immersive and enlightening, but also gleefully pulpy, and a breath of fresh air for Marathi cinema.
The film most certain to resonate with critics and global audiences.
Competent performances throughout, especially from the reliable Kishor Kadam and a striking Ishita Deshmukh.
The film's single shot gives a palpable sense of the world.
Screenings
See Gondhal in cinemas
Released in Maharashtra on 14 November 2025. An Indian re-release and international dates will be announced as the awards campaign continues.
Not yet available on streaming platforms.