Gondhal, the Marathi-language thriller carrying India’s hopes at the 99th Academy Awards, has released its global trailer. The film was chosen from 33 submissions by the Film Federation of India on September 18, 2026, and the trailer marks the next step in its awards campaign. Directed by Santosh Davakhar, the film is set over one night in rural Maharashtra, using the traditional Gondhal folk ritual as the backdrop for a story of desire, betrayal, and a plan that goes wrong. The trailer gives global audiences their first wide look at the film ahead of its pan-India theatrical release on November 13, 2026.
What the Global Trailer Shows
The trailer arrived on October 26, 2026, via an exclusive launch reported by Variety . It presents Gondhal as a cultural thriller rooted in Maharashtra’s folk traditions. The story follows Suman (Ishitaa Deshmukh), a young wife trapped in a suffocating marriage. She tries to take control of her life by using the fixation her lover Sarjerao (Nishad Bhoir) has on her. As her desires run against the codes of honor and custom around the Gondhal ritual, the night moves toward tragedy. The trailer also shows the film’s visual scale, including its opening sequence, which runs as an unbroken take of roughly 25 minutes.
The Folk Ritual at the Center of the Story
Gondhal is not simply using a folk tradition as a visual background. The ritual is the engine of the plot. Gondhal is a traditional Marathi performance that involves music, dance, and storytelling, usually performed to invoke deities. In Davakhar’s film, the devotional setting is placed against a story of manipulation and danger. Suman exploits Sarjerao’s obsession with the ritual, pushing him toward killing her husband, Anand (Yogesh Sohoni), so she can escape with Sahebrao, also called Murali (Anuj Prabhu) . The official synopsis describes the night as a sacred village ceremony that turns into a dangerous game of crime and consequence before dawn .
The Cast Behind Gondhal
Ishitaa Deshmukh leads the film as Suman. Kishor Kadam plays Bhivaba, an elder figure tied to the ritual. Yogesh Sohoni plays Suman’s husband, Anand. Nishad Bhoir plays Sarjerao, the man whose obsession becomes Suman’s tool. Anuj Prabhu plays Sahebrao, the lover Suman wants to escape with. The supporting cast includes Suresh Vishwakarma, Maadhavi Juvekar, Aishwarya Shinde, Kailash Waghmare, and Poonam Patil . The film is written, directed, and produced by Santosh Davakhar under the Davakhar Films banner, with Diksha Davakhar, Jayesh Sawant, and Ravindra Navle also producing .
Ilaiyaraaja’s Music and a 25-Minute Single Take
Two technical details have drawn attention to Gondhal beyond its Oscar selection. The music and background score are by Ilaiyaraaja, the veteran composer who marked 50 years in Indian cinema in 2025. Gondhal is the first film featuring his music to be selected as India’s official Oscar entry . The film also opens with a single take that lasts about 25 minutes. Editor Ashish Mhatre said the sequence took seven days to shoot, pointing to the preparation behind the film . The cinematography is by Amalendu Chaudhary, with editing by Ashish Mhatre .
“Global perceptions of Indian cinema are often shaped by narratives of poverty and caste conflict – important realities, but not the complete expression of India. India is also a civilization of extraordinary cultural wealth, sustained by traditions, music, and collective memory. I created this film to bring one such powerful tradition to the global screen through a culturally authentic and universal cinematic language.” — Santosh Davakhar, director of Gondhal
Release Date and Language Versions
Gondhal will release in theatres across India on November 13, 2026, in Marathi, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada . The film first arrived in theatres on November 14, 2025, and returned for special paid previews after the Oscar selection brought new attention . A global release date outside India has not been announced. The film is also not available on any streaming platform. No official OTT partner or premiere date has been confirmed, and Davakhar has said the film is meant to be seen on the big screen.
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Festival Recognition and the Oscar Campaign
Davakhar won the Silver Peacock for Best Director at the 56th International Film Festival of India for Gondhal. Jury members at the festival described the film as “like a Shakespearean fable set in a real world” . The film also earned recognition at the Pune International Film Festival, where Davakhar won Best Director and Amalendu Chaudhary was awarded Best Cinematographer in 2026 . Gondhal is the fourth Marathi film to be chosen as India’s official Oscar entry, after Shwaas (2005), Harishchandrachi Factory (2009), and Court (2015) . The 99th Academy Awards are scheduled for March 14, 2027 .
Also Read: IFTDA Asks CM Devendra Fadnavis to Back Gondhal Oscar Campaign with Funds and Institutional Help
For more coverage of Indian cinema’s awards season and global releases, keep reading VvipTimes.
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