A debate has resurfaced surrounding the Marathi psychological thriller 'Gondhal' after the film was selected by India to participate in the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards. However, filmmaker Anarag Kashyap expressed the opinion that India often chooses unsuitable films for the Oscars.
According to Kashyap, instead of 'Gondhal,' films such as 'The Lunchbox' and 'All We Imagine As Light' should have been submitted. The director of 'Gondhal,' Santosh Davghar, responded to Anarag Kashyap's remarks.
Santosh Davghar reacted on social media, stating that he deeply respects Anarag Kashyap and his work. He recalled meeting Anarag Kashyap on a flight from Bangalore to Mumbai on April 26th at 23:55, where he discussed his film. At that time, Anarag stated that he had not heard or seen the film but would definitely watch it. After this meeting, the film was not publicly available and was not screened in Mumbai.
Davghar urged viewers to refrain from judging the film before watching it. He emphasized that 'Gondhal' is made by a new, outsider filmmaker and is a debut project attempting to present Marathi culture with global appeal. The film was created for the big screen, not for streaming services. He assured that the 'Gondhal' team is aware of its responsibility and will not disappoint the country's people. Santosh asked viewers to support the film when it is re-released.
In an interview with Variety India, he was asked about the reasons why India has not yet been able to exert significant influence at the Oscars. Kashyap replied that this is happening due to the selection of completely wrong films. He noted that they had the opportunity to choose worthy pictures like 'The Lunchbox' and 'All We Imagine As Light,' but they missed it. According to Anarag, there is too much politics in the film selection process. He added that strong competition is expected this year, and winning international submissions will be difficult.
Kashyap also stated that drawing premature conclusions about 'Gondhal' is hasty, as he has neither seen 'Gondhal' nor other films submitted to the Oscars. He believes that before participating in the Oscars, a film must be screened at an international film festival or have an American distribution contract by the end of the year. In his view, 'Gondhal' should have premiered at film festivals first, as this is the first step; otherwise, money spent on screenings and advertising could be wasted.