Gondhal: Director Santosh Davkhar’s Direct Response to Anurag Kashyap’s Criticism

Director Santosh Davkhar’s Marathi film Gondhal has been selected as India’s official entry for the 2027 Academy Awards. Following the announcement, acclaimed filmmaker Anurag Kashyap expressed dissatisfaction with the decision. In response, Santosh Davkhar has issued a formal statement regarding Kashyap’s comments and the ongoing debate surrounding the selection.

The film’s Oscar nomination marks a moment of immense pride for Marathi cinema. However, Anurag Kashyap raised concerns about India’s official Oscar selection process, suggesting that Gondhal should have focused on building international film festival momentum before aiming for the Academy Awards.

Addressing Kashyap’s statement, Santosh Davkhar maintained respect for the veteran filmmaker while clarifying key facts. Davkhar shared that he met Kashyap on April 26 during a flight from Bengaluru to Mumbai, where he introduced the film to him. At the time, Kashyap admitted he had not seen or heard of Gondhal but promised to watch it. Davkhar emphasized that Gondhal has not yet been publicly screened or made available in Mumbai. Consequently, he urged audiences and critics not to pass judgment on the film’s Oscar entry without seeing it first.

Director Advocates for the Big Screen Experience

Santosh Davkhar highlighted that Gondhal is a debut project from an independent filmmaker working outside mainstream industry circles. He described the film as a psychological thriller rooted in traditional Marathi culture designed specifically for global audiences. He also clarified that the movie was produced for the big screen rather than digital OTT platforms. Davkhar stated that he fully understands the weight of representing India globally and remains committed to making the country proud.

Anurag Kashyap’s Perspective on Oscar Selections

Commenting on India’s historical selection process, Anurag Kashyap argued that the committee has previously missed major international opportunities, citing films like The Lunchbox and All We Imagine as Light. In his view, films selected for the Oscars benefit significantly from prior international theatrical exposure and established global audience recognition. Kashyap reiterated that while he has not seen Gondhal, he believes the project should have prioritized international festival circuits first.

Gondhal’s Journey to the Oscars

The Film Federation of India selected Gondhal from a shortlist of 33 films to represent India as its official entry for the 2027 Oscars. Set against the backdrop of Maharashtra’s traditional ‘Gondhal’ folk art and religious rituals, the psychological thriller has already earned critical acclaim, including the Silver Peacock Award for Best Director at the International Film Festival of India.