Sep 23, 2026 12:30pm IST
Anurag Kashyap Weighs In On ‘Gondhal’’s Chances At The Oscars: ’We Select Absolutely Wrong Films’ (EXCLUSIVE)
With Santosh Davakhar’s “Gondhal” selected as India’s official entry to the Oscars 2027, all eyes are on the Marathi film’s run-up to getting shortlisted in the Best Foreign Film category, which has eluded India this far. Acclaimed filmmaker and purveyor of films in general and self-confessed cinephile in particular, Anurag Kashyap offers his take on the new film’s selection and India’s dry run at the Academy Awards.
Why do you think we come away every year without winning an Oscar?
Because we select absolutely wrong films. Even if we did have the chance to select the right ones like “The Lunchbox” and “All We Imagine As Light,” we messed it up.
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Why do you think we lost those two opportunities? And what about Homebound?
“Homebound’ was sent. It reached the Final 15 shortlist. That was good. As for “The Lunchbox” and “All We Imagine As Light,” the selection committees deliberately didn’t choose them. Now there is “Gondhal.” Let's see what happens.
Would you agree that there is too much politics in the selection process?
Yes. And more than that, it’s a lack of awareness. This year, the competition is really tough. It’s hard this year to beat the international entries for the Oscars. Also, it’s too early for me to say anything because I haven’t seen the selected film and many of the ones submitted.
Why do you think we come away without the Oscar every year?
The most important qualification for eligibility should be that the film should have gone to some international festival outside India or should have had American distribution or should have had an American distributor before year-end. “Gondhal” should first try to get seen across festivals. That has to be the first step or all the money spent on screenings or advertising is a waste. Also, the IFFI is a recognized Indian film festival. If “Gondhal” won the Silver Peacock there, NFDC should play a role in submitting its Regional IFFI winners for international festivals for exposure.
That’s where the director loses the plot.
Filmmakers are filmmakers first; they don’t know much. But NFDC goes to every festival to set up a market without purpose. They should have a purpose to push the films that haven’t premiered outside the country to actually apply for festivals and not just play at the market.
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