Santosh Dawakhar, the filmmaker behind India official submission for Oscar 2027, the Marathi feature Gondhal, has responded to pointed comments made by director Anurag Kashyap. Kashyap had previously voiced strong criticism of the national selection process, stating that the country frequently ends up sending completely the wrong films to compete at the Academy Awards. Dawakhar took to social media to offer clarity on the matter and present his perspective.
The In-Flight Conversation Between Filmmakers
Expressing profound regard for Kashyap and his distinctive approach to cinema, Dawakhar recounted an encounter between the two filmmakers. The conversation took place on 26 April during a flight journey from Bengaluru to Mumbai, where Dawakhar introduced Kashyap to the project Gondhal. During that exchange, Kashyap openly mentioned that he had neither heard of the film nor watched it, though he expressed an intention to view it whenever possible.
Dawakhar highlighted that since that encounter, the film has remained unavailable to the broader public and has not had any screenings organized in Mumbai. Because the project has not yet been accessible for viewing, the director requested people to refrain from arriving at conclusions about a cinematic work without experiencing it on screen first.
A Psychological Thriller Crafted for Big Screens
Describing the essence of Gondhal, Dawakhar explained that it is a psychological thriller helmed by a fresh director who entered the craft from outside the conventional film circles. The narrative weaves authentic Marathi cultural elements into a format designed to connect with international viewers. He underscored that the production was specifically envisioned and executed for a theatrical big screen experience, rather than an OTT streaming release.
Dawakhar emphasized that stepping onto a global stage like the Oscars to represent India is a massive responsibility that his team intends to shoulder with total earnestness. In line with that vision, he urged moviegoers to turn up at cinema halls during the film upcoming theatrical re-release to experience the story firsthand and offer their backing.
Kashyap Objections to the Selection Framework
The controversy initially sparked after Kashyap commented during a media interaction that Indian cinema consistently misses out on global honours because the selection committees repeatedly make flawed choices. To substantiate his point, he cited notable past instances involving critically acclaimed titles such as The Lunchbox and All We Imagine as Light, arguing that sound decisions were bypassed on those occasions.
Kashyap further asserted that any movie chosen to represent the nation at the Oscars ought to possess prior acclaim from premier international film festivals or secure active distribution in the United States. He had suggested that Gondhal focus on establishing its footprint across global film festival circuits first before taking on the Oscar race.
