27 October,2026 04:01 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Gondhal trailer. Pics via YouTube
The global trailer for Gondhal, India's official entry for the 2027 Oscars, has been unveiled ahead of its worldwide theatrical release on November 13. Written and directed by Santosh Davakhar, the Marathi psychological thriller draws on Maharashtra's cultural traditions to tell a story of desire, duty and devotion, with a series of mysterious events disrupting a newly married couple's lives.
Starring Ishita Deshmukh, Kishor Kadam, Yogesh Sohani and Nishad Bhoir, the film follows Suman and Anandrao as their relationship becomes entangled in uncertainty. The trailer offers glimpses of an atmospheric world where personal desires clash with social and cultural obligations, leaving the truth shrouded in mystery.
Gondhal is set to release in seven languages, Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and English, across India and international markets, including the US, UK, Europe, Australia, Dubai and Africa. The makers describe the rollout as the first time a Marathi film is being released globally in seven languages.
Speaking about the film's international journey, Davakhar said, "Global perceptions of Indian cinema are often shaped by narratives of poverty and caste conflict - important realities, but not the complete expression of India."
He added, "Gondhal is not a film but generations of culture, people, traditions coming together. Getting the world to know about this tradition is something that makes me immensely happy; global festivals like the Academy Awards help filmmakers to bring forth the ethnicity of our very roots across continents and not only in India."
Explaining his vision, the filmmaker said, "I created this film to bring one such powerful tradition to the global screen through a culturally authentic and universal cinematic language." The film is India's official submission in the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards and is also being considered across multiple categories, according to the makers.
Gondhal previously earned recognition at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), where Davakhar won the Silver Peacock for Best Director. The festival jury described the film as "like a Shakespearean fable set in a real world".
The film also features a distinctive technical approach, opening with an unbroken take lasting 25 minutes. Cinematography is by Amalendu Chaudhary, while Davakhar produced the project alongside Diksha Davakhar under their banner, Davakhar Films.
The production house focuses on regional stories while aiming for high standards in cinematography, sound, music and performances. With its global trailer now out, Gondhal is preparing to bring its exploration of Maharashtra's cultural heritage and psychological intrigue to audiences across multiple territories.
The film is scheduled to arrive in theatres worldwide on November 13.
