Some films arrive on streaming platforms and slowly find an audience. Others suddenly become the subject of nationwide curiosity years after their theatrical release. Gondhal currently falls into the latter category. The Marathi thriller, which had its theatrical run in November 2025, has seen renewed attention after being selected to represent India at the 99th Academy Awards.
That selection has also brought an unusual question from viewers: where can the film actually be watched? Unlike several recent Indian films that became accessible globally through streaming soon after their festival or theatrical runs, Gondhal has remained difficult to access outside its theatrical screenings. Its Oscar selection has now created fresh demand for the film.
As of September 19, Gondhal is not available to stream on any major OTT platform in India, and an official streaming partner or OTT premiere date has not been announced. Current streaming trackers also list the film as unavailable to stream, rent or buy online.
The film could, however, soon become more accessible. Director Santosh Davakhar has said that Gondhal will be released again in Hindi, Malayalam and Kannada. He also suggested that viewers should experience the film on the big screen rather than on mobile or OTT, pointing to its opening sequence, which he said runs for 26 minutes in a single take.
Directed and written by Davakhar, Gondhal is set in rural Maharashtra and uses the traditional Gondhal folk ritual as the backdrop for a story of desire, deception and escape. Ishita Deshmukh plays Suman, a woman trapped in a difficult marriage, while Kishor Kadam, Yogesh Sohoni, Nishad Bhoir and Anuj Prabhu are also part of the cast. The film has music by veteran composer Ilaiyaraaja.
The ritual itself is central to the film rather than simply being a cultural backdrop. Gondhal is a traditional Marathi performance involving music, dance and storytelling, traditionally performed to invoke deities. In Davakhar’s film, the celebratory and devotional setting is contrasted with a story involving manipulation, danger and a woman's attempt to escape her circumstances.
The film's Oscar journey comes after a festival run that had already brought recognition to Davakhar. He won the Silver Peacock for Best Director at the 56th International Film Festival of India in 2025, while Gondhal also received recognition at the Bengaluru International Film Festival and other festival platforms.
The Film Federation of India selected Gondhal from 33 submissions for India's International Feature Film entry at the 2027 Oscars. Jury head P Sheshadri said the panel was unanimous in its decision and described the film as one that could connect with critics and global audiences.
