{{short description|Indian Marathi-language thriller film}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2026}} {{Use Indian English|date=March 2026}} {{Infobox film | name = Gondhal | image = Gondhal film.jpg | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = Santosh Davakhar | writer = Santosh Davakhar | screenplay = Santosh Davakhar | story = Santosh Davakhar | producer = Diksha Davakhar<br/> | starring = {{plainlist | *Kishor Kadam *Ishita Deshmukh *Yogesh Sohoni *Nishad Bhoir }} | cinematography = Amalendu Chaudhary | editing = Ashish Mhatre | music = Ilaiyaraaja<ref>{{Cite web |last=Narayan |first=Kimaya |date=2025-09-28 |title=Marathi Movie : पद्मविभूषण इलैयाराजा यांच्या संगीताने सजलेला 'गोंधळ'; सिनेमाचं पोस्टर रिलीज |url=https://www.esakal.com/premier/upcoming-marathi-movie-gondhal-movie-poster-out-entertainment-news-kds07 |access-date=2025-11-24 |website=Sakal |language=mr}}</ref> | studio = Davakhar Films | distributor = AA Films<br/>Custard Apple Pictures | released = {{Film date|df=yes|2025|11|14}} | runtime = 120 minutes | country = India | language = Marathi }}{{Short description|2025 Indian thriller film by Santosh Davakhar}} '''''Gondhal''''' is a 2025 Indian Marathi-language thriller film written and directed by Santosh Davakhar.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gondhal |url=https://cbfcindia.gov.in/cbfcAdmin/search-result.php?recid=Q0EwMTI3MTAyMDI1MDAwNzU= |access-date=2025-11-24 |website=Central Board of Film Certification}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Gondhal {{!}} Release Date, Reviews, Cast, and Where to Watch |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/zoom/movies/gondhal-movie-153110526 |access-date=2025-11-24 |website=Times Now |language=en}}</ref> The film stars Ishita Deshmukh, Yogesh Sohoni, Kishor Kadam, Suresh Vishwakarma, Nishad Bhoir, Anuj Prabhu, Vitthal Kale in main roles.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-18 |title=तब्बल २५ मिनिटांचा वनटेक सीन! 'गोंधळ' निमित्ताने भारतीय सिनेसृष्टीत पहिल्यांदाच झाला 'असा' प्रयोग |url=https://www.lokmat.com/filmy/marathi-cinema/gondhal-marathi-movie-25-minute-one-take-scene-directed-by-santosh-davkhar-a-a998/ |access-date=2025-11-24 |website=Lokmat |language=mr}}</ref> ''Gondhal'' was nominated for the Golden Peacock Award at the 56th International Film Festival of India<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-08 |title=५६ व्या इंटरनॅशनल फिल्म फेस्टिवल ऑफ इंडियाच्या ‘या’ श्रेणीमध्ये ‘गोंधळ’ची अधिकृत निवड |url=https://www.loksatta.com/manoranjan/marathi-cinema/marathi-movie-gondhal-at-56th-international-film-festival-of-india-hrc-97-5495398/ |access-date=2025-11-24 |website=Loksatta |language=mr}}</ref> and Santosh Davakhar won Best Director Award in Silver Peacock category.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.newsonair.gov.in/56th-iffi-concludes-in-goa-vietnamese-film-wins-golden-peacock/ |title=56th IFFI Concludes in Goa, Vietnamese Film Wins Golden Peacock |access-date=2025-11-28 |website=News On Air}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=महाराष्ट्राच्या शिरपेचात मानाचा तुरा! ५६ वर्षांत पहिल्यांदाच मराठी दिग्दर्शकाने IFFI मध्ये पटकावला पुरस्कार |url=https://www.loksatta.com/manoranjan/marathi-cinema/marathi-film-gondhal-director-santosh-davakhar-wins-best-director-award-at-iffi-hrc-97-5539878/ |website=Loksatta |date=2025-11-29 |access-date=2025-11-29 |language=mr}}</ref>
== Plot == Set against the vibrant yet volatile cultural backdrop of rural Maharashtra, ''Gondhal'' explores the collision between ritual tradition, personal ambition, and human vulnerability. As relationships fracture and loyalties are tested, the narrative gradually reveals buried truths and emotional tensions beneath ceremonial festivities. Blurring the boundaries between folklore symbolism and contemporary socio-political realities, the film unfolds as a psychological and cultural thriller rooted in lived experience.
==Cast== *Kishor Kadam as Bhivaba *Ishita Deshmukh as Suman *Yogesh Sohoni as Anand "Aandya" *Nishad Bhoir as Sarjerao *Anuj Prabhu as Sahebrao *Suresh Vishwakarma as Patil, Sarjerao's father *Maadhavi Juvekar as Anand's mother *Aishwarya Shinde as Anand's sister *Kailash Waghmare as Mhorkya *Poonam Patil as Suman's mother *Prashant Deshpande as Anand's father *Sharad Jadhav as Suman's father *Vitthal Kale as Mohan *Pravin Dalimbkar as Vilas *Dhruv Thoke as Vishnu, Bhivaba's grandson *Prabhakar Mathapati as Anand's brother-in-law<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-14 |title=‘GONDHAL’ (MARATHI) REVIEW {{!}} 14 November, 2025 |url=https://filminformation.com/reviews/gondhal-marathi-review-14-november-2025/ |access-date=2025-11-24 |website=Film Information |language=en}}</ref>
==Marketing== The teaser was released on 10 October 2025 with ''Kantara: Chapter 1'' in selected cinemas.<ref>{{Cite web |title=‘कांतारा’सोबत थिएटर्समध्ये प्रदर्शित झाला या मराठी सिनेमाचा टिझर; बॉक्स ऑफिसवर घालणार का 'गोंधळ'? |url=https://maharashtratimes.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/bollywood-news/gondhal-marathi-movie-teaser-cast-kishor-kadam-ishita-deshmukh-yogesh-sohoni/articleshow/124449352.cms |access-date=2025-11-24 |website=Maharashtra Times |language=mr}}</ref>
==Release== The film was theatrically released in Maharashtra, India on 14 November 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gondhal Marathi Movie: गोंधळ सिनेमाची जोरदार चर्चा, प्रेक्षकांचा कसा मिळतोय प्रतिसाद? दिग्दर्शक म्हणाले... |url=https://marathi.ndtv.com/entertainment/gondhal-marathi-movie-released-on-box-office-star-cast-and-how-is-the-audience-responding-9637302 |access-date=2025-11-24 |website=NDTV Marathi}}</ref>
== Awards and honours == At the 56th International Film Festival of India (2025), ''Gondhal'' won the Silver Peacock for Best Director.<ref>{{Cite web |title=महाराष्ट्राच्या शिरपेचात मानाचा तुरा! ५६ वर्षांत पहिल्यांदाच मराठी दिग्दर्शकाने IFFI मध्ये पटकावला पुरस्कार |url=https://www.loksatta.com/manoranjan/marathi-cinema/marathi-film-gondhal-director-santosh-davakhar-wins-best-director-award-at-iffi-hrc-97-5539878/ |website=Loksatta |date=2025-11-29 |access-date=2025-11-29 |language=mr}}</ref> The film also received the FIPRESCI Award at the 17th Bengaluru International Film Festival (2026).<ref>{{Cite web |title=BIFFes |url=https://biffes.org/awardWinner |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=biffes.org}}</ref> At the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) (2026), it won both Best Director and Best Cinematographer, and later secured the Best Director award at the 22nd Third Eye Asian International Film Festival (2026).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-12-22 |title=22nd Third Eye Asian Film Festival will be held from January 9 to January 15, 2026! |url=https://www.cinebuster.in/22nd-third-eye-asian-film-festival-will-be-held-from-january-9-to-january-15-2026/ |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=Cine Buster |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Critics Reception == Santosh Bhingarde of ''Sakal'' awarded 4.5 stars out of 5 stars, describing it as an outstanding portrayal of our folk culture.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bhingarde |first=Santosh |date=2025-11-15 |title=Movie Review : गोंधळ - लोककला आणि लोकसंस्कृती यांचा उत्तम जागर |url=https://www.esakal.com/premier/gondhal-movie-review-out-on-social-media-entertainment-news-kds07 |access-date=2025-11-24 |website=Sakal |language=mr}}</ref> Anupama Gunde of ''Pudhari'' awarded 3 stars out of 5 stars, and wrote "The film symbolically blends darkness, the breaking dawn, and the emergence of truth into bright light."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-16 |title=Gondhal Marathi Movie : प्रेम आणि सत्तेमध्ये गुरफटलेला गोंधळ |url=https://pudhari.news/soneri/gondhal-marathi-movie-love-power-struggle-ab96 |access-date=2025-11-24 |website=Pudhari |language=mr}}</ref> Elizabrth Kerr of ''Screen Daily'' wrote "Though the narrative has its share of loose ends (one of which is disturbing for who it involves), ''Gondhal'' is immersive and enlightening, but also gleefully pulpy, and a breath of fresh air for Marathi cinema."<ref>{{Cite web |title=‘Gondhal’ review: An Indian wedding party turns sour in polished Marathi-language debut |url=https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/gondhal-review-an-indian-wedding-party-turns-sour-in-polished-marathi-language-debut/5211404.article |website=Screen |access-date=2025-11-29 |language=en |first=Elizabeth |last=Kerr}}</ref>
==Soundtrack== {{Track listing | headline = Track listing | extra_column = Singer(s) | all_music = Ilaiyaraaja | title1 = Chandana | length1 = 5:08 | extra1 = Ajay Gogavale, Arya Ambekar | title2 = Malhari | length2 = 2:22 | extra2 = Abhijeet Kosambi | title3 = Naman | length3 = 1:35 | extra3 = Harilal Ghuge }}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb title|id=38651971}} Category:2025 Marathi-language films Category:2025 Indian films Category:2025 thriller films Category:2025 drama films Category:Films set in Maharashtra Category:AA Films films Category:2025 directorial debut films Category:Films distributed by AA Films