Cinema VinesIndia’s official entry for the 99th Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category is the Marathi psychological thriller Gondhal, directed by Santosh Davakhar. The film, which delves into complex human emotions against a Marathi cultural backdrop, was announced as the country’s pick after a selection process that has drawn criticism from several quarters.
Renowned filmmaker Anurag Kashyap voiced his discontent with the choice, saying in an interview with Variety India that India “often selects the wrong films” for the Oscars. He cited earlier submissions such as The Lunchbox and All We Imagine As Light as examples of movies he believed should have been chosen instead. Kashyap also pointed out the influence of politics and a lack of awareness in the selection process, and noted that the competition this year is particularly fierce, making it difficult for Indian entries to stand out.
In his comments, Kashyap added that a key eligibility criterion should be that a film has been shown at an international festival outside India or has secured American distribution before the year‑end. He suggested that Gondhal first aim for exposure at festivals such as the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), where a Silver Peacock award could help the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) promote the film on the global stage. He also emphasized that the film’s marketing spend should be justified by festival visibility rather than solely by screenings or advertising.
Responding to Kashyap’s remarks, Davakhar took to the comments section of the Variety India post to defend his film. He recalled meeting the critic on a Bengaluru‑Mumbai flight on 26 April, where Kashyap had expressed interest in watching Gondhal but had not seen it yet. Davakhar noted that since that encounter the film had not been publicly available or screened in Mumbai, and urged audiences to view the movie before forming judgments.
Davakhar concluded his statement by stressing his respect for Kashyap’s work and by appealing to viewers to support the debut filmmaker. He highlighted that Gondhal is a psychological thriller that blends regional storytelling with universal appeal, is intended for theatrical release rather than OTT, and that the team is committed to representing India with pride on the international stage. The film’s theatrical release is expected soon, and Davakhar hopes audiences will give it a chance in cinemas before the Oscar campaign concludes.
