Marathi film Gondhal, India's Oscar entry, to get special screenings in six cities from October 9
Santosh Davkhar's film, India's official entry for the 99th Academy Awards, will be screened in Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru.
Marathi film 'Gondhal', directed by Santosh Davkhar, has been selected as India's official entry for the 99th Academy Awards (Oscars).
Ahead of its Oscar run, the makers have planned special screenings in six major Indian cities before the film's worldwide release. The cities are Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru.
The screenings begin on October 9, with four theatres each in Mumbai and Pune in the first round. The other cities will follow.
The film will be shown in both Marathi and Hindi at these screenings. The makers said that after the screenings the film will be released not only in India but also abroad, in six languages: Marathi, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada. When it will reach theatres for the general audience has not yet been announced.
The name 'Gondhal' recalls the traditional village ritual with music, dance and the telling of stories of the goddess. The film revolves around this Gondhal tradition. It is the story of a newly married couple. A woman named Suman is unhappy in her marriage. Her lover, Sargerao, is deeply passionate about the Gondhal ritual.
Suman exploits this passion and turns a sacred tradition into a dangerous game. What happens next, and the chaos it causes, forms the thriller at the heart of the film. Ishita Deshmukh, Kishor Kadam and Yogesh Sohoni play the lead roles. Davkhar has both written and directed the film.
Davkhar is delighted by the selection. He said, "These special screenings are not just about showing the film early. For people who like going to the theatre to watch a film, this is a special experience." He added, "The story of Gondhal is rooted in the soil of Maharashtra and in our culture. Its atmosphere and its sounds are meant to be felt on the big screen."
Davkhar also said, "After getting the chance to represent India at the Oscars, bringing this film before the audience is very special for me. I want people to come to the theatre without any preconceptions and experience this psychological journey."
