Archive · 24 Sep 2026
India's Oscar Selection Debated After Gondhal Director Responds to Kashyap
India chose a Marathi film called Gondhal to compete for an Oscar.
Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap questioned whether it was the best choice.
He said India has sometimes ignored films with stronger international chances.
He also said films should be shown at overseas festivals or distributed in the United States.
Gondhal director Santosh Davakhar asked people to watch the film before criticizing it.
He said the film had not yet been publicly available or screened in Mumbai.
Jury member Vivek Vaswani said Gondhal mixes Indian traditions with a story that can appeal globally.
The jury also considered Main Vaapas Aaunga, Angh and Dhurandhar.
The disagreement is about which films should represent India and how they should be prepared for international attention.
Marathi film Gondhal was selected as India’s submission for the 99th Academy Awards’ Best International Feature Film category.
Anurag Kashyap said India often chooses the wrong films and alleged that The Lunchbox and All We Imagine As Light were deliberately overlooked.
Kashyap argued that international festival screenings or American distribution should be important selection considerations.
Gondhal director Santosh Davakhar urged people to watch the film before judging it, saying it has not yet been publicly available or screened in Mumbai.
Jury member Vivek Vaswani defended Gondhal’s selection, while saying Main Vaapas Aaunga, Angh and Dhurandhar were also considered.
- Who
- Anurag Kashyap, Gondhal director Santosh Davakhar, Film Federation of India juror Vivek Vaswani, and the 14-person selection jury.
- What
- A debate followed India’s selection of Gondhal as its Oscar submission after Kashyap criticized the choice and Davakhar responded.
- When
- The debate followed Gondhal’s selection for the 99th Academy Awards; Davakhar said he met Kashyap on April 26 earlier this year.
- Where
- The selection was made in India; Davakhar said Gondhal had not yet been publicly available or screened in Mumbai.
- Why
- Kashyap cited politics, limited awareness and insufficient international exposure, while Davakhar defended the film and Vaswani explained the jury’s selection criteria.
Selection Criticism
Gondhal Defense
Was Gondhal the right choice?
Selection Criticism
Anurag Kashyap said India often selects the wrong films and alleged that The Lunchbox and All We Imagine As Light were deliberately overlooked.
Gondhal Defense
Vivek Vaswani said the jury was instructed to select a film representing Indian culture and tradition while also having global appeal, which he believed Gondhal achieved.
International Oscar strategy
Selection Criticism
Kashyap argued that international festival screenings or American distribution should be central to a film’s eligibility and said Gondhal should first seek exposure at overseas festivals.
Gondhal Defense
Santosh Davakhar said Gondhal was made for the big screen, blends Marathi culture with global appeal and should be watched before audiences form a verdict.
How contenders were assessed
Selection Criticism
Kashyap emphasized international visibility and questioned India’s ability to compete with other countries’ Oscar entries.
Gondhal Defense
Vaswani said Main Vaapas Aaunga’s India-Pakistan storyline might not resonate with American audiences, while Angh received 11 of 14 votes and Dhurandhar received four.
- Selected film
- Gondhal, a Marathi psychological thriller, was chosen as India’s submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards.
- Kashyap’s criticism
- Anurag Kashyap said India chooses “absolutely wrong films” and alleged that The Lunchbox and All We Imagine As Light were deliberately not selected.
- International exposure
- Kashyap said films should have international festival screenings or American distribution before the end of the eligibility year.
- Director’s response
- Santosh Davakhar asked audiences to watch Gondhal before passing judgment and said it had not been publicly available or screened in Mumbai.
- Jury rationale
- Vivek Vaswani said Gondhal combines a murder mystery with music, dance and Indian cultural traditions in a remote Maharashtra village.
- Other films considered
- Main Vaapas Aaunga and Angh were also described as jury favourites; Angh received 11 of 14 votes, according to Vaswani.
- Voting detail
- Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar received four of 14 votes and was considered not suitable for the Oscars by the jury.
