Ranveer Singh starrer Dhurandhar reached the final stages of the selection race to represent India at the 99th Academy Awards. Despite registering strong commercial numbers at the ticket windows, the high-profile Hindi release failed to make the final cut. Following exhaustive deliberations, the Film Federation of India selection committee selected the Marathi thriller Gondhal as the country's official submission for the 2027 Oscars.
Behind The Jury Vote And The Cultural Evaluation
Jury member Vivek Vaswani provided detailed insight into the internal evaluation that determined the outcome. When addressing the standing of Dhurandhar during the final stage, Vivek Vaswani explained that while select members appreciated the project, the panel collectively felt it did not match the caliber required for an Oscar contender.
He pointed out that the 14-member committee wanted an entry that authentically showcased Indian cultural heritage, a dimension where Dhurandhar did not measure up to expectations for an official national submission. When the selection committee cast their ballots, Dhurandhar managed to secure support from just four members, ending its run in the competition.
Selection Field of 33 Films Narrowed Down To Top Three
A comprehensive pool of 33 films across diverse regional industries entered the race to become the national entry. The competing roster featured 14 Hindi titles, four Marathi, four Telugu, three Gujarati, three Tamil, one Malayalam, one Nepali, and one entry from Nagaland.
Following detailed evaluations of the submissions, the panel narrowed the field down to a shortlist of three projects. The trio that competed in the decisive stage comprised Gondhal, Ang, and Main Wapas Aaunga. After reviewing all three finalists, the jury finalized Gondhal to represent the nation at the prestigious 2027 Academy Awards.
Gondhal Stands Out With Folk Ritual Heritage
Written and directed by Santosh Davakhar, Gondhal is structured as a narrative thriller rooted in Maharashtra's traditional ritual and folk performance art, from which the film derives its name. The authentic cultural grounding and distinct local setting heavily swayed the decision of the evaluators.
Gondhal has already built momentum across the global festival circuit, having been screened at several international film festivals. Director Santosh Davakhar also received widespread acclaim when he took home the Silver Peacock Award for Best Director at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in 2025.
