Stories
Renuka Shahane on Gondhal's Oscar 2027 Entry: "It Means The Whole World"
- •Gondhal, a Marathi film, has been selected as India's official entry for the Oscars 2027, making it the fourth Marathi film to receive this honor.
- •Renuka Shahane expressed immense joy, stating the selection changes perspectives and excites the industry.
- •The film, set in rural Maharashtra, centers on Suman, who plots to escape an unhappy marriage with her lover Sahebrao during a Gondhal ceremony.
- •Gondhal was released theatrically on November 14, 2025, and garnered multiple awards at the Filmfare Awards Marathi 2026, including Best Screenplay and Best Background Score.
Key Questions Answered
Set in rural Maharashtra during a midnight Gondhal ceremony, the film follows Suman, who is trapped in an unhappy marriage to Anand. She falls in love with a Gondhali performer named Sahebrao and manipulates her husband's cousin Sarjerao into a dangerous murder plot to clear her path for escape.
Gondhal is the fourth Marathi film to be selected as India's official entry to the Oscars, following Shwaas in 2005, Harishchandrachi Factory in 2009, and Court in 2014.
The film was released theatrically in Maharashtra on November 14, 2025. At the Filmfare Awards Marathi 2026, Gondhal won Best Screenplay for Santosh Davakhar, Best Background Score for Ilaiyaraaja, Best Sound Design for Jayesh Dhakan, Best Cinematography for Amalendu Chaudhary, along with Best Debut Male for Nishad Bhoir and Best Debut Female for Ishita Deshmukh.
