Gondhal (2025)

Gondhal (2025) is a Marathi drama that plunges audiences into the realm of ancient Gondhal rituals—a ritual dance interwoven deeply into Maharashtra's cultural structure. The narrative utilizes the sacred ritual not just as cultural setting but also as battlefield of psychology, religion, and emotional warfare.
Based in rural Maharashtra, the film begins with Suman, a young bride stuck in an oppressive marriage. Suman is at the mercy of her husband and the society, where Gondhal is used to bring peace, happiness, and spiritual purification after significant life occurrences such as marriage. The ritual, however, takes a sinister turn when its meaning distorts. Suman's paramour, Sarjerao, is extremely passionate about the Gondhal tradition. Rather than being comforted, Suman employs this devotion, playing Sarjerao and making the ritual's sacred nature a lethal card game.
As the Gondhal progresses, the viewer gradually finds dark secrets hidden behind the façade of faith and tradition. The tone, infused with suspense and mystery, of the film queries whether sacred beliefs can heal—or kill—the human spirit. The narrative probes the thin line between devotion and blind faith, questioning how rituals based on pride of community and history can prove to be a vehicle for psychological and emotional volatility.
Visually, Gondhal impresses with its sweep, technically dazzling photography, and engaging soundtrack by the great Padma Vibhushan Ilaiyaraaja. Director Santosh Davkhar has taken cue from movies such as Kantara and Dashavatar, capturing how regional mythology and mystical practices can be the reason for both healing and devastation. Each frame is a tribute to Maharashtra's distinctive Gondhal art form that weaves together folk music, story, and symbolic dance, with the narrative set in a whirl of supernatural suspense and visual beauty.
The cast is ably supported by Kishore Kadam, Ishita Deshmukh, Yogesh Sohoni, Kailash Waghmare, Aishwarya Shinde, and others, all giving strong performances that enhance the film's rich emotional core. The technical crew behind the film is one of the best in the business, guaranteeing not just authenticity but international cinematic standards with regard to sound, edit, color, and design.
Gondhal is finally both celebration and critique of tradition—a psychological thriller against the abiding strength of Marathi culture. As Suman's conflict progresses and secrets in the community are revealed, audiences are left wondering whether religion really provides safety or merely hides new kinds of peril. Opening November 14, 2025, Gondhal is set to connect with anyone who is drawn to the intersection of devotion, mystery, and the human condition.