Gondhal, India's Oscar entry, drops Hindi trailer before 7-language release

Gondhal, the Marathi psychological thriller selected as India's official entry for the Best International Feature Film award at the 99th Academy Awards, has released its Hindi trailer, on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. The film, directed by Santosh Davakhar with music by Ilaiyaraaja, will return to cinemas worldwide in seven languages: Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and English. Most reports give the release date as Friday, November 13, 2026; one outlet puts it a day earlier. A global trailer was also unveiled as part of the campaign. The film first reached cinemas in Marathi in November 2025.

India's Oscar entries are usually chosen from films that had modest commercial runs, and many of them are in regional languages that most of the country never sees in cinemas. Gondhal's makers are trying something different: using the Oscar selection to give the film a second, much wider life, both across India and abroad, in dubbed and subtitled versions. Bringing a film back to cinemas a year after its first run is unusual in Indian cinema, where most titles leave theatres within weeks and move to streaming. A Hindi trailer is the key to reaching audiences in north and central India, while an English version is aimed at international viewers, including Academy members who vote on the award.

The campaign also matters for the Oscar race itself. Films that compete for the International Feature award need visibility among voters, and producers typically spend on screenings, publicity and distribution in the United States. A wider theatrical release helps build word of mouth and press attention, which can make a difference when the Academy draws up its shortlist.

The film's story is rooted in Maharashtra's culture. Its trailer presents a tale of belief, love and family set against local traditions. Having Ilaiyaraaja, one of India's most celebrated composers, on the soundtrack gives the film recognition beyond Marathi audiences, especially in the south.

For Marathi cinema, the selection and re-release are a chance to show that a regional film can travel. Recent years have seen Indian films in several languages build global audiences, and a successful multilingual release of an Oscar entry would add to that trend.

Short-term: Audiences across India will be able to watch the film in their own language from mid-November, and the trailer launch begins the publicity push for both the release and the Oscar campaign. Distributors have just over two weeks to place the dubbed and subtitled versions in cinemas.

Long-term: If the multilingual re-release succeeds, it could become a model for future Indian Oscar entries, which have often struggled to find audiences outside their home states. Its Oscar prospects will become clearer when the Academy announces its shortlist.

Who is affected: Film audiences across India and abroad, the Marathi film industry, the makers and cast of Gondhal, distributors handling the dubbed versions, and the Indian film community following the Oscar race.

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