A Marathi film is headed to the Oscars. Gondhal has been selected as India’s official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards. The Film Federation of India (FFI) announced the selection on Friday, putting the spotlight on a regional story rooted deeply in Maharashtra’s culture and traditions.

Directed by Santosh Davakhar, Gondhal is a thriller set during the traditional midnight ritual that gives the film its name. The film has already made its mark on the festival circuit, including at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), where Davakhar won the Silver Peacock for Best Director.
This is a developing story.