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Gondhal Chosen Over Dhurandhar for Oscars
Confirmed
In Short: The Film Federation of India selected Marathi thriller Gondhal over Dhurandhar as India's official entry for the 99th Academy Awards.
Film Federation of India (FFI) member Vivek Vaswani revealed that Dhurandhar, starring Ranveer Singh, did not meet the jury's expectations for an Oscar submission.
According to Vaswani, only four out of the 14 jury members voted for Dhurandhar, while the final selection was between Gondhal, Angh, and Main Vaapas Aaunga.
Gondhal, directed by Santosh Davakhar, was chosen for its unique blend of traditional Marathi culture and Ilaiyaraaja's music, which the jury believed would resonate internationally.
Vaswani noted that Dhurandhar's commercial success did not influence the jury's decision, which was based on the film's potential to represent India on the global stage.
Imtiaz Ali’s Main Vaapas Aaunga, featuring an India-Pakistan storyline, was also considered but ultimately not chosen due to concerns about its appeal to American audiences.
Gondhal, set against the backdrop of Maharashtra's Gondhal ritual, was deemed the most suitable to showcase India's cultural diversity and uniqueness at the Oscars.
What this adds
The decision highlights the importance of cultural uniqueness and international appeal in the selection process for India's Oscar submission.
What's confirmed
- Written and directed by Santosh Davakhar, Gondhal is set against the backdrop of Maharashtra's traditional Gondhal ritual, a folk performance involving music, dance and mythology.
What's still developing
- He explained that Dhurandhar and its sequel did not meet that expectation.
- Oscars 2027 Update: Ranveer Singh-starrer Dhurandhar was among the films in contention to become India's official entry for the Oscars 2027.
- When asked where Dhurandhar stood during the final decision, he said, "Couple of people liked it, but we didn't think that it was Oscar material." The comments have added more context to the decision, especially since Dhurandhar was one of the year's biggest Hindi film releases and had been considered for India's Oscar submission.
- “And then they call Ilaiyaraaja to do the music. It just made the film unique. And it is very important for anything that we send to the Oscars to be completely unique,” he said.