# Gondhal Director Santosh Davakhar Responds to Anurag Kashyap Criticising India Oscar Selection > After filmmaker Anurag Kashyap questioned India's Oscar 2027 pick, Gondhal director Santosh Davakhar urged critics to watch the psychological thriller before forming judgements. **Type:** article · **Category:** Bollywood · **Published:** 2026-09-23 · **Source:** TrendKia **Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/bollywood/skara-vivada-para-anurag-kashyap-ko-gondhal-ke-nirdeshaka-santosh-davakhar-ka-javaba-37357 · **Language:** English **Tags:** Gondhal, Santosh Davakhar, Anurag Kashyap, Oscars 2027, Marathi Cinema, Psychological Thriller, The Lunchbox Following the selection of the Marathi psychological thriller Gondhal as India's official submission for the 2027 Oscars, prominent filmmaker Anurag Kashyap publicly questioned the nation's selection committee. He remarked that India frequently chooses the wrong titles for global awards. In response, Gondhal director Santosh Davakhar addressed the comments on social media, defending his project while reiterating his respect for Kashyap's body of work. ## The Flight Encounter and Premature Judgement Santosh Davakhar revealed that he personally respects Anurag Kashyap and his filmmaking craft. Sharing a previous exchange, Davakhar recounted meeting Kashyap on April 26 during a flight travelling from Bengaluru to Mumbai, where he introduced Gondhal to him. During that interaction, Kashyap acknowledged that he had neither heard of nor watched the film, though he expressed an intention to view it later. Davakhar pointed out that since that encounter, the film has neither been accessible to the wider public nor screened in Mumbai. On that basis, he appealed to everyone, including seasoned filmmakers, to reserve final judgement until they have actually watched the movie. ## A Big-Screen Psychological Thriller Describing the essence of his creation, Davakhar explained that Gondhal is a psychological thriller directed by an industry outsider. He noted that the narrative roots itself deeply in regional Marathi culture while maintaining a broad global appeal. Furthermore, the director emphasised that the production was envisioned and executed specifically for a theatrical big-screen experience, rather than being tailored for digital streaming or OTT formats. ## Representing India and Theatrical Re-Release Davakhar stated that representing the entire country on a platform as immense as the Oscars carries significant weight, and his team is prepared to shoulder that duty with full dedication. With the film slated for an upcoming theatrical re-release, he called upon moviegoers and cinema enthusiasts to visit cinemas, view the story first-hand, and extend their support. ## Kashyap's Criticism and Strategic Concerns The controversy began when Anurag Kashyap argued in a media interaction that India regularly misses out on prestigious international honours due to flawed selection choices. Citing past instances, Kashyap highlighted celebrated titles such as The Lunchbox and All We Imagine as Light to show how deserving cinema was overlooked. Kashyap argued that any contender chosen for the Oscars ought to possess international film festival exposure or secure proper distribution across the United States. He previously suggested that Gondhal focus on building visibility across global film ceremonies before entering the Academy Awards race. ## What this means for you This development affects theatrical access to regional cinema and highlights India's selection strategy for global awards. - **For Moviegoers:** The Marathi film Gondhal will be re-released in theatres, offering audiences a direct opportunity to experience it on the big screen. Viewers can visit local cinemas upon re-release to evaluate the psychological thriller themselves. - **For Regional Cinema:** The selection demonstrates that independent projects made by industry outsiders can secure India's official representation. It broadens opportunities for non-Hindi regional language films on the global stage. - **Strategic Campaign Awareness:** Competing at the Academy Awards necessitates established international festival visibility and foreign distribution networks. Future filmmakers will need to align production and festival rollouts with long-term awards eligibility. - **Audience Support:** Domestic theatrical backing plays a vital role in elevating independent productions before international campaigns begin. Buying tickets during the re-release offers direct encouragement to regional cinematic efforts. ## Why this happened The public exchange arose after Anurag Kashyap criticised India's Oscar selection strategy, prompting Gondhal director Santosh Davakhar to address the comments. - **Critique of Selection Strategy:** Kashyap argued that India frequently selects unsuitable contenders for the Oscars, pointing to past omissions like The Lunchbox and All We Imagine as Light. He stressed the necessity of international festival screenings and United States distribution. - **Unviewed Film Evaluation:** Davakhar revealed that during an April 26 flight from Bengaluru to Mumbai, Kashyap admitted he had not seen or heard of Gondhal. Because the film had not yet screened in Mumbai or released publicly, Davakhar argued the criticism was premature. - **Defense of Creative Merits:** Davakhar asserted that the psychological thriller represents a dedicated effort by an outsider with global appeal. He maintained that the team takes the responsibility of representing India seriously and called for judgements based on viewing. ## Questions & Answers ### 1. Which film was selected as India's official entry for the 2027 Oscars? The Marathi psychological thriller Gondhal was selected to represent India at the 2027 Oscars. ### 2. What concern did Anurag Kashyap raise regarding the selection? Kashyap argued that India frequently selects the wrong films and stated that contenders need international festival exposure and US distribution. ### 3. How did Gondhal director Santosh Davakhar respond to Kashyap's remarks? Davakhar pointed out that Kashyap has not yet watched the film and urged people to see the work before forming an opinion. ### 4. When and where did Santosh Davakhar meet Anurag Kashyap? The two met on April 26 during a flight travelling from Bengaluru to Mumbai, where Davakhar first mentioned the film. ### 5. Which past films did Anurag Kashyap mention in his critique? Kashyap referenced The Lunchbox and All We Imagine as Light as instances where the selection process missed the mark. ### 6. What genre does Gondhal belong to? Gondhal is a psychological thriller directed by an industry outsider, crafted for big-screen theatrical viewing with Marathi cultural roots. --- _TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. Machine-readable view; canonical HTML at the URL above._