23 September,2026 06:17 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Anurag Kashyap. Pic via X
Marathi film Gondhal has been selected as India's official entry for the Oscars 2027, putting the spotlight on its journey towards a possible Best International Feature Film shortlist. However, filmmaker Anurag Kashyap believes India's repeated Oscar disappointment stems largely from the films it chooses to send.
Speaking to Variety India, Kashyap was asked why India has failed to win an Oscar despite producing films with international acclaim. His response was blunt, "Because we select absolutely wrong films." He cited The Lunchbox and All We Imagine As Light as films that could have been stronger choices, claiming that the Film Federation of India "messed it up" and that the two films were "deliberately" not selected.
Kashyap, however, said he is yet to watch Gondhal, making it too early for him to assess its Oscar prospects. Asked whether "too much politics" affects the selection process, Kashyap agreed, but pointed to another concern. "Yes. And more than that, it's a lack of awareness," he said.
He also warned that Gondhal faces tough competition internationally. "This year, the competition is really tough. It's hard this year to beat the international entries for the Oscars," he said. According to Kashyap, international exposure should be a key part of an Indian film's Oscar strategy. "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," he explained.
For Gondhal, he believes festival screenings should come first. "That has to be the first step or all the money spent on screenings or advertising is a waste," he said. Kashyap also called for greater involvement from the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), particularly in helping Indian films reach international festivals.
While Kashyap questioned the selection process, FFI jury member Vivek Vaswani explained why Gondhal emerged as the winner from the 14-member panel. Speaking to NDTV, Vaswani said the jury had "very clear instructions" to choose a film that could represent Indian culture while having global appeal. Describing Gondhal, he said, "It's a night of intrigue. It's a night of murder. But that whole night is a festival and the whole night they sing and dance."
He added that the music and dance were rooted in the film's Maharashtra setting, giving it a distinctly Indian identity.
Vaswani revealed that Imtiaz Ali's Main Vaapas Aaunga and Angh were also among the jury's favourites. Main Vaapas Aaunga did not receive enough votes, while Angh secured 11 of 14 votes. Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar, meanwhile, received four votes, with the jury reportedly feeling it "wasn't Oscar material."
