Santosh Davakhar’s Marathi thriller Gondhal, selected as India’s official entry for the 99th Academy Awards, has unveiled its global trailer ahead of its November 13, 2026 theatrical release. The makers have announced plans for a multilingual rollout aimed at audiences in India and overseas.
India’s Oscar entry Gondhal is preparing to reach a wider audience as its global trailer arrives ahead of the film’s scheduled theatrical release on November 13, 2026. Written and directed by Santosh Davakhar, the Marathi psychological thriller draws on Maharashtra’s traditional folk culture to tell a story shaped by desire, obsession and betrayal.
The film has attracted attention following its selection as India’s official submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards. Its latest trailer marks another step in the film’s international campaign, introducing its distinctive cultural setting to audiences beyond Marathi cinema.
Gondhal to Release in Multiple Languages on November 13
According to the makers, Gondhal is planned for a seven-language release covering Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and English. The announced international rollout is intended to reach audiences in India, the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, Dubai and Africa.
The makers have described the multilingual expansion as the first of its kind for a Marathi film. This distinction should be attributed to the production team, as independent confirmation of the historical claim has not been established.
Earlier release announcements described a six-language theatrical rollout across India, covering Marathi, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada. The latest announcement adds English and refers to a broader international release, although detailed territory-wise schedules and screening information have not yet been publicly established.
The November 13 date is therefore the announced theatrical release date, while audiences outside India will need to look for further distribution and screening details as they become available.
What Is Gondhal About?
Set in rural Maharashtra, Gondhal centres on Suman, a young woman trapped in an unhappy marriage. As her personal desires collide with marital obligations and social expectations, her relationship with her lover becomes entangled with his growing obsession with the traditional Gondhal ritual.
The story unfolds over a single night, using a folk ceremony associated with devotion, music, dance and theatrical storytelling as the backdrop for a tense psychological drama. As hidden motives and personal ambitions surface, the sacred gathering becomes the setting for an increasingly dangerous chain of events.
Rather than presenting Maharashtra’s traditions merely as cultural background, the film places the ritual at the centre of its narrative. Its dramatic tension emerges from the clash between personal freedom, social conventions, devotion and the consequences of obsession.
The global trailer offers a glimpse of this world, although viewers will have to watch the film to understand how its characters’ choices ultimately shape the story.
Santosh Davakhar on Taking Maharashtra’s Culture to Global Audiences
Writer-director Santosh Davakhar has said that he wants Gondhal to introduce international audiences to aspects of Indian culture that receive less attention in mainstream cinematic narratives.
“Global perceptions of Indian cinema are often shaped by narratives of poverty and caste conflict – important realities, but not the complete expression of India,” Davakhar said.
He added that India’s cultural heritage, traditions and collective memory also deserve space in global cinema. For the filmmaker, Gondhal offers an opportunity to present a culturally rooted story through a cinematic language that audiences from different backgrounds can engage with.
Davakhar has also highlighted the role of international film platforms in helping regional stories travel beyond their original linguistic and cultural communities. The film’s Oscar selection and planned multilingual rollout have given the project a wider platform for introducing the Gondhal tradition to new viewers.
Gondhal’s Oscar Journey and International Recognition
The Film Federation of India selected Gondhal as India’s official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards on September 18, 2026. The film was chosen from 33 submissions, bringing renewed attention to Davakhar’s feature debut.
The selection makes Gondhal part of India’s submission campaign for the 2027 Oscars. It does not, by itself, mean the film has been nominated for an Academy Award or secured a place on the final shortlist.
Davakhar had already received significant recognition at the 56th International Film Festival of India, where he won the Silver Peacock for Best Director. The festival jury described the film as “like a Shakespearean fable set in a real world,” highlighting its distinctive combination of realism and dramatic storytelling.
The Oscar selection has added another milestone to the film’s journey, while the global trailer and expanded release plans aim to bring its story to a broader audience.
Gondhal Cast and Technical Team
The film features Ishita Deshmukh, Kishor Kadam, Yogesh Sohoni, Nishad Bhoir and Anuj Prabhu. Deshmukh plays Suman, whose difficult marriage and personal choices drive the central conflict, while the supporting performances contribute to the film’s portrayal of a community caught between tradition and individual desires.
Gondhal is produced by Santosh Davakhar and Diksha Davakhar under the banner of Davakhar Films. Amalendu Chaudhary serves as cinematographer, while editor Ashish Mhatre worked on the film’s visual structure. The music and background score are composed by Ilaiyaraaja.
One of the film’s most distinctive technical features is its opening sequence, which unfolds in a single, unbroken take lasting approximately 25 minutes, according to reporting on the film. The extended shot places particular emphasis on sustained performance, camera movement and the atmosphere of the unfolding events.
Gondhal Release Date: What Audiences Should Know
Gondhal is scheduled to return to cinemas on November 13, 2026, following its selection as India’s official entry for the 99th Academy Awards. The announced Indian rollout includes six languages, while the latest global release announcement identifies English as an additional language for the broader seven-language plan.
The film’s international campaign brings Maharashtra’s folk traditions to the forefront of a psychological thriller built around obsession, marital conflict and devotion. Its reception among audiences outside the Marathi-speaking community will become clearer as the theatrical rollout progresses.
For now, the global trailer introduces the film’s cultural setting and dramatic premise ahead of its November release. Further details about international screenings, language versions and territory-wise availability are awaited.
FAQs
When will Gondhal release in theatres?
Gondhal is scheduled for a theatrical release on November 13, 2026.
Is Gondhal India’s official entry for the 2027 Oscars?
Yes. The Film Federation of India selected the film for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards. This is an official submission, not a confirmed Oscar nomination.
Who directed Gondhal?
Santosh Davakhar wrote and directed the Marathi psychological thriller.
In which languages will Gondhal release?
The announced Indian release covers Marathi, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada. The makers’ latest announcement also mentions English for a planned seven-language global rollout.
Who stars in Gondhal?
The cast includes Ishita Deshmukh, Kishor Kadam, Yogesh Sohoni, Nishad Bhoir and Anuj Prabhu.
