‘Gondhal’ director Santosh Davakhar on India’s Oscar entry, Diwali release in 7 languages and more: ”Ramayana’ would give our film more room’ – Exclusive | Marathi Movie News

Marathi cinema is increasingly finding its place in the national conversation, but taking regional stories to a wider audience comes with its own set of challenges. Director Santosh Davakhar hopes to bridge that gap with ‘Gondhal’, a psychological thriller rooted in Maharashtra’s cultural traditions that blends devotion, deception, desire and betrayal. Selected as India’s official entry for the 99th Academy Awards, the film is set for a worldwide release in seven languages on November 13, following the arrival of ‘Ramayana’ on November 5.For Davakhar, the film represents an opportunity to introduce Maharashtra’s cultural heritage to audiences beyond the Marathi-speaking world while demonstrating the universal appeal of stories rooted in regional identities. From retaining the authenticity of a traditional ritual across multiple language versions to navigating marketing challenges, theatrical distribution and the struggle for screens, the filmmaker believes that strong storytelling and audience support are essential for Marathi cinema to grow.The director also opens up about the responsibility of representing India on the international stage, why he believes ‘Gondhal’ deserves to be experienced in theatres, and how the Oscar campaign has temporarily put his next project, ‘Shahaji Raje’, on hold. In this conversation, Davakhar shares his vision for the future of Marathi cinema, including his ambitious dream of seeing the industry achieve ₹1,000 crore in annual box-office collections within the next five years.‘Gondhal’ is releasing worldwide in seven languages on November 13, shortly after ‘Ramayana’ on November 5. How significant is this release window, and does the pan-India ambition bring added expectations?We originally wanted a Diwali release. With ‘Ramayana’ arriving on November 5 and the excitement surrounding it, we felt November 13 would give our film more room. By the following week, audiences may be ready for a different experience. Releasing worldwide in seven languages is a big step for us. It brings expectations, but also the hope that our Marathi story will connect with a much wider audience. Their support can strengthen our Oscar campaign too.The film’s trailer has now been released globally. What was the central thought behind the story, and what do you hope audiences take away from it?From the beginning, I wanted to tell a story rooted in Maharashtra that could represent India internationally. I spoke about that dream even a year before the film’s release. ‘Gondhal’ brings together devotion, deception, desire and betrayal. A sacred ritual becomes the setting for a psychological thriller. I want audiences to feel the suspense and leave thinking about the characters, their choices and the consequences.Taking a Marathi film to audiences across seven languages is a big step. How challenging was it to retain its cultural authenticity while making it accessible to viewers from different regions?The challenge was to make the dialogue feel natural in every language while preserving Marathi culture, traditional music and the village atmosphere. At its heart, the film explores complex human emotions such as jealousy, greed, the struggle for power and obsession. These emotions connect with people everywhere. Audiences may be unfamiliar with the ritual, but they will understand the characters and what drives them.With ‘Gondhal’ drawing attention as India’s official entry for the 99th Academy Awards, how has that recognition influenced your approach to presenting it internationally?Being India’s official entry makes international audiences take notice, but it also brings responsibility. India is a diverse country, with rich traditions in every corner. Through ‘Gondhal’, we are trying to preserve and share one of those traditions. We want international audiences to discover this culture through its people and their story. Representing our culture, our community and our country together is a huge honour and a dream come true.What sets ‘Gondhal’ apart from other films releasing around the same time, and why should audiences experience it in theatres?‘Gondhal’ is completely a team effort. Every head of department and every team member has contributed to its quality. The FFI jury told us they chose the film because it was the best across departments, including acting. That appreciation belongs to the whole team. Some of our actors may not be famous faces, but they deliver powerful performances.The 25-minute opening take, unpredictable twists, visuals and live sound draw you into a remote village in Maharashtra and make you feel part of its world. Please watch it in theatres. That is where you can fully experience everyone’s work together. We created it for the big screen, and we are not currently planning an OTT release.How important is marketing for a Marathi film today, especially when competing with big-budget Hindi and South Indian releases?Marketing is essential because even a good film needs to reach people. We are a small production house, so we must use our resources carefully while putting quality first. Today’s audiences know what they want: a strong story and a fresh experience. Our marketing must make them curious enough to buy a ticket. After that, the film must earn their appreciation. Word of mouth can become our strongest support.Could your next film also be rooted in Marathi culture, or are you looking to tell a story with a more pan-India setting?My next film, ‘Shahaji Raje’, is rooted in Maharashtra’s history and pride. The screenplay and dialogues are ready, and we were preparing to begin shooting. We have now put it on hold for three to four months to give ‘Gondhal’ and its Oscar campaign our complete attention. India has given us a big responsibility, and we want to give it our best. I believe a story rooted in Maharashtra can still connect with audiences across the country.What is one change you would like to see in the Marathi film industry over the next five years?I would love to see a stronger bond between Marathi films and their audiences. It must be a two-way effort: filmmakers need to create fresh, engaging stories, and audiences need to support them in theatres. My dream is that, within the next five years, Marathi cinema reaches ₹1,000 crore in annual box-office collections. That growth would create opportunities for new talent, more stories and ambitious films.A Marathi film can win awards and represent India at the Oscars, but can it get enough screens at home? How do you respond to that contradiction?It is a real concern. International recognition does not automatically bring enough screens or suitable showtimes at home. But our limited Hindi paid previews received an encouraging response. At our Pune screening, even tourists took time out of their visit to watch the film and came away happy. That gives me confidence.Kannada cinema faced similar challenges before a few major successes helped it reach audiences across India. I believe Marathi cinema can do the same. This year, ‘Krantijyoti Vidyalay Marathi Madhyam’, ‘Deool Band 2’ and ‘Raja Shivaji’ together have done around ₹250 crore in worldwide business. Their success shows the strength of stories rooted in our culture. We need to build on that momentum and give more Marathi films a fair chance to reach their audiences.