India’s Oscar Entry Gondhal Begins Paid Previews in Six Cities from October 10

India’s official entry for the 99th Academy Awards is heading to cinemas. The makers of Gondhal have announced special paid preview screenings from October 10 across six cities — Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru — as the film kicks off its Oscar campaign.

The Marathi psychological thriller, written and directed by Santosh Davakhar, stars Kishor Kadam, Ishita Deshmukh, Yogesh Sohoni, Nishad Bhoir and Anuj Prabhu. Set against the backdrop of the traditional Gondhal ritual of rural Maharashtra, it follows a young bride who turns a sacred custom into a lethal game of minds.

The previews will run in Marathi and Hindi, with a wider theatrical release planned later in six languages — Marathi, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada.

‘We were confident that the entire Gondhal team had made a good product. For the last year, we have been preparing for this,’ Davakhar told ANI, calling the selection ‘a great blessing’ and a big responsibility: ‘When you go in front of the Oscars voters, that means you are representing your nation.’

Sources: ANI, New Kerala.