Oct 14, 2026 4:40pm IST
Santosh Davakhar on Rerelease of ‘Gondhal’: ‘We Want to Represent Indian Cinema Rather Than Chase Box Office Numbers’ (EXCLUSIVE)
When “Gondhal” was announced as India’s official entry in the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards, it marked a significant milestone for the Marathi-language psychological thriller. Originally released in November 2025, the film returned to theatres recently, following a fresh wave of interest after its Oscar selection. Directed by Santosh Davakhar, the film revolves around the traditional ritual of the same name, which becomes the backdrop for a murder mystery. The film stars Kishor Kadam, Ishita Deshmukh, Yogesh Sohoni, Nishad Bhoir and Anuj Prabhu in key roles.
Even as the debate over selecting “Gondhal” for the Oscars continues, Davkhar, the movie’s writer, director, and producer, remains confident that it is the right choice. In an exclusive conversation with Variety India following the film’s theatrical rerelease, he discusses his plans for the Oscar campaign and whether he has spoken to Anurag Kashyap after the filmmaker commented on “Gondhal’” s selection for the Oscars.
What was the thought behind rereleasing “Gondhal” in theaters?
‘Gondhal’ was released last year, and since its selection as India’s official Oscar entry, we have received a tremendous response from audiences eager to see the film in theaters. This inspired us to begin special paid previews. We made “Gondhal” with the vision of representing Indian cinema internationally, rather than chasing box office numbers.
Related Stories
What are your plans for “Gondhal” in the coming months as you prepare for its Oscar campaign?
We have been preparing for this opportunity for over a year, which is why we deliberately held back the OTT release. Our Oscar campaign roadmap is ready, with multiple screenings planned in Los Angeles and other international locations to reach Academy voters. We are approaching this journey with confidence and careful preparation.
How has being selected as India’s Oscar entry changed things for you as a filmmaker? Are you exploring new scripts and projects?
Recognition from an institution like the Film Federation of India is a tremendous honor for the entire “Gondhal” team. It certainly brings greater credibility, but producers ultimately look for strong scripts and audience potential. I had pitched my next ambitious historical film, Shahajiraje, before the Oscar announcement, and the response was encouraging.
Now that “Angh” is eligible for an International Feature Film nomination at the Oscars, has your strategy changed?
Our strategy remains unchanged, but I’m genuinely happy that India has two films in the Oscar race this year. Theja Rio represents an exciting new voice in Indian cinema. His journey from developing “Angh” as a short film to bringing it to the international stage as a feature is admirable. Interestingly, both “Gondhal” and “Angh” are debut features, making this moment even more special. I wish Theja Rio and the entire “Angh” production team all the very best. I sincerely hope one of us brings home the Oscar.
Popular on Variety
Anurag Kashyap has shared his thoughts on the selection process for Oscar representation on social media. Have you had the chance to speak to him?
I tried to reach him, but we couldn’t connect. I have admired his filmmaking for years, particularly “Gangs of Wasseypur” and “Kennedy,” as well as his writing in “Satya.” I had also approached him a few months ago because I genuinely wanted to show him “Gondhal” in its original Marathi version. He is a filmmaker I deeply respect, and I would love to hear his thoughts on my work.
Are you planning to take “Gondhal” to more international film festivals?
We received invitations from international festivals but held back, hoping to explore festivals like Sundance and TIFF. We chose IFFI because it was a matter of national pride. That decision affected our eligibility for certain festivals that prioritize premieres, but I have no regrets. We are now exploring several international festivals because they offer audiences and filmmakers opportunities to discover the film. Positive word of mouth can also help it reach Academy voters organically.
Do you think India could finally have its big moment at the Oscars in 2027?
Why not? This year, we have two promising debut filmmakers representing Indian cinema. I strongly believe our films have the potential to stand out on the global stage. We are confident in our storytelling, our cultural identity and the strength of Indian cinema.
Comments are moderated. They may be edited for clarity and reprinting in whole or in part in Variety publications.