Highlights
- Anurag Kashyap criticised India’s track record of selecting films for the Oscars
- The filmmaker said he has not watched Gondhal, India’s official Oscar entry
- Director Santosh Davakhar urged audiences to watch the film before judging it
- Gondhal will represent India in the Best International Feature Film category
Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has questioned India’s process for choosing films for the Oscars, saying the country has previously missed opportunities with movies he believed were stronger contenders. His comments came shortly after Marathi psychological thriller Gondhal was selected as India’s official entry for the 99th Academy Awards.
Kashyap’s remarks have now drawn a response from Gondhal director Santosh Davakhar, who asked audiences to watch the film before forming an opinion about its Oscar selection.
What Anurag Kashyap said about India’s Oscar selections
Speaking to Variety India, Kashyap said India has often selected what he considers the “wrong films” for the Oscars. He cited The Lunchbox and All We Imagine As Light as films he felt could have been selected instead.
He also spoke about what he believes should matter when selecting an Indian film for the Academy Awards, pointing to international festival exposure and American distribution as important factors.
However, Kashyap clarified that he had not watched Gondhal or many of the other films submitted for consideration. He said it was therefore too early for him to comment specifically on the film, while suggesting that Gondhal should first seek exposure at international festivals.
‘Please watch the film before passing a verdict’
Davakhar responded on social media, recalling that he had met Kashyap on a Bengaluru-Mumbai flight on April 26 and introduced him to Gondhal.
According to Davakhar, Kashyap told him at the time that he had not heard of or watched the film but would do so. Davakhar said the film has since not been publicly available or screened in Mumbai.
He then made a broader appeal to audiences, writing: “My humble request to all audiences, please watch the film before passing a verdict.”
Davakhar described Gondhal as a psychological thriller that blends Marathi culture with global appeal. He also stressed that the film was made for the big screen and said the team understands the responsibility of representing India at the Oscars.
Why ‘Gondhal’ is representing India
Directed and written by Davakhar, Gondhal was selected from 33 films submitted for consideration as India’s entry for the 99th Academy Awards. It will compete in the Best International Feature Film category.
The Marathi film draws on Maharashtra’s traditional Gondhal ritual and folk-performance traditions. Its cast includes Ishita Deshmukh, Yogesh Sohoni, Kishor Kadam, Suresh Vishwakarma, Nishad Bhoir, Anuj Prabhu and Vitthal Kale.
Davakhar previously won the Silver Peacock for Best Director at the International Film Festival of India for Gondhal, adding to the film’s festival credentials before its Oscar selection.
