How Santosh Davakhar turned a childhood memory into Oscar-bound Gondhal

Santosh Davakhar, an Indian filmmaker, has created a biographical film titled Gondhal which is set to enter the Oscars' Best International Feature Film category. The film was inspired by Davakhar's childhood memories of attending all-night Gondhal rituals in the Nashik region of Maharashtra. Gondhal is a ritualistic performance that invokes local deities using music, dance, and devotional singing.

Davakhar sought to document this disappearing tradition and breathe it into cinema by building a human conflict around it. He chose to tell the story of Suman, a young bride who plots to escape her arranged marriage and be with her true love. The film is set in the 1960s and explores themes of patriarchy, society's constraints, and the authenticity of music tied to the ritual.

Legendary composer Ilaiyaraaja, who is revered for his work on over 1,500 films, contributed to the film's score. Davakhar admired Ilaiyaraaja for taking the time to understand and observe the ritual before composing the music. The film features a single, 25-minute-long continuous shot that captures the intensity and emotion of the story. Davakhar wanted to create characters that were relatable, presenting them as ordinary people struggling with their desires and personal ambitions.

Davakhar's approach to filmmaking was influenced by his exposure to international cinema, particularly after watching a variety of films at the Cannes Film Festival in 2017. He aimed to represent India's rich cultural heritage on an international platform. The production of the film took place over approximately three weeks in Mumbai and required meticulous planning due to the logistical challenges of executing a single-take sequence with a large cast and numerous extras.