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Oscars 2027 India Entry: Why Marathi film Gondhal was chosen over Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar and Diljit Dosanjh’s Main Vaapas Aaunga?

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 12:09:19 +0530

Ranveer Singh-starrer Dhurandhar may have been one of the biggest Hindi blockbusters of the year, but its box-office success was not enough to take it to the Oscars. Despite being among the films considered by the Film Federation of India (FFI) jury for India’s official entry to the 2027 Academy Awards, Dhurandhar received only four votes from the 14-member jury.

The film, directed by Aditya Dhar, and its sequel Dhurandhar: The Revenge, were both among the titles considered for the prestigious international race. However, when it came to choosing the one film that would officially represent India, the jury looked beyond popularity and commercial numbers.

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Why Dhurandhar Didn't Make It To The Oscars Final Entry?

Jury member Vivek Vaswani has now opened up about the decision. Vaswani was part of the 14-member FFI jury that selected the Marathi film Gondhal as India’s official entry for the 99th Academy Awards, to be held in 2027. Speaking about Dhurandhar, Vaswani revealed that the film received just four votes. When asked why the Ranveer Singh-led film did not make the cut despite its huge success, his answer was straightforward.

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“Couple of people liked it but we didn't think it was Oscar material,” Vaswani said.

The comment highlights an important difference between box-office success and Oscar selection. A film can dominate theatres, attract a massive audience and become a commercial phenomenon, but the jury's task is to decide which film can work as India's representative on an international platform.

Main Vaapas Aaunga Was Also In The Final Race

Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar was not the only major Hindi film that came close. Imtiaz Ali's Main Vaapas Aaunga was also among the final three films considered by the jury, alongside Gondhal and the Naga film Angh. Vaswani explained that Main Vaapas Aaunga dealt with the trauma of war and Partition between India and Pakistan. He stressed that the film was not intended to be anti-India or anti-Pakistan. However, the jury had concerns about whether an India-Pakistan subject would connect with audiences in the United States.

“We thought anything to do with India-Pakistan may not resonate with the audience in America,” Vaswani said, comparing the situation to Israel sending an anti-Palestine film.

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He also praised the sensitivity with which Imtiaz Ali handled the subject, saying the film was about the trauma of war rather than taking an anti-Pakistan or anti-India position. Still, it did not receive enough votes.

How Gondhal Won The Jury's Confidence

The final decision came down to Gondhal, Angh and Main Vaapas Aaunga. Vaswani revealed that Angh received 11 of the 14 votes. Gondhal, however, ultimately received a unanimous vote from the jury.

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Directed and written by Santosh Davakhar, Gondhal is a thriller-drama rooted in Maharashtra's traditional Gondhal ritual and folk-performance culture. Its strong connection with Indian traditions and cultural identity became an important part of its appeal. The film stars Kishor Kadam, Ishita Deshmukh, Yogesh Sohoni, Nishad Bhoir and Anuj Prabhu, while legendary composer Ilaiyaraaja's music adds another layer to the film's atmosphere.

The film's selection also gives Marathi cinema another opportunity on the international stage. Earlier, Shwaas (2004), Harishchandrachi Factory (2009) and Court (2015) had been selected as India's official Oscar entries.

Dhurandhar's Oscar Journey Is Not Necessarily Over

While Dhurandhar did not become India's official Oscar entry, that does not automatically mean the film has no chance of reaching the Academy Awards. India's official entry is submitted through the FFI's selection process, but films can also pursue the Academy through other qualifying routes. RRR, for instance, was not India's official International Feature Film submission but eventually won an Oscar for Best Original Song.

For now, however, India's official representative is Gondhal. The jury's decision shows that when the Oscar entry is selected, a film's box-office power is only one part of a much bigger conversation one that includes storytelling, cultural identity and how the film can speak to an international audience

Oscars 2027: Marathi Film Gondhal to represent India at the Academy Awards

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 17:34:00 +0530

Oscars 2027: Indian cinema has another reason to celebrate as Marathi film Gondhal has been selected as India’s official entry for the Oscars 2027. The Film Federation of India announced the selection on September 18. Directed and written by Santosh Davakhar, the film will compete for a place in the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards.

Oscars 2027

The Oscars ceremony is scheduled to take place on March 14, 2027, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. For Gondhal, the journey has only just begun, as the film will now campaign for a place on the Academy’s official shortlist.

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Story Rooted in Maharashtra

Set in rural Maharashtra, Gondhal brings together suspense, relationships and local tradition. The story follows Suman, played by Ishita Deshmukh, a married woman whose seemingly comfortable life hides deep unhappiness. When she tries to escape her difficult circumstances, her decision sets off a chain of desire, betrayal and deception.

The film gets its name from the traditional Gondhal folk-performance ritual, which plays an important role in the story. Taking place around a midnight ritual involving a newly married couple, the film uses Maharashtra’s rich cultural tradition to create an atmosphere that is both mysterious and dramatic.

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The cast includes Kishor Kadam, Ishita Deshmukh, Yogesh Sohoni, Suresh Vishwakarma, Kailash Waghmare, Nishad Bhoir and Madhavi Juvekar. Veteran composer Ilaiyaraaja has created the film’s music.

Strong Competition

This year, Gondhal was selected from 33 films submitted from across India. The entries included 14 Hindi films, four Marathi films, four Telugu films, four Gujarati films and three Tamil films, along with films in Malayalam, Konyak and Nepali. A silent film was also among the submissions. The Naga film Angh and Tamil film Dorothy were among the other contenders.

Only the Fourth Marathi Film to Reach This Stage

The selection is particularly significant for Marathi cinema. Gondhal is only the fourth Marathi film to be chosen as India’s official Oscar entry. It follows Shwaas (2004), Harishchandrachi Factory (2009) and Court (2015).

Interestingly, Gondhal had a modest theatrical run after its release on November 14, 2025, earning less than Rs 1 crore. However, its festival journey brought greater attention, including recognition at the Pune International Film Festival and Bengaluru International Film Festival. Director Santosh Davakhar had also won the Silver Peacock Award at IFFI 2025.

Looking Back at the Previous Oscars

Last year, India was represented by Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound, which was selected as the country’s official entry. With Gondhal, the spotlight now moves to Marathi cinema and its distinctive blend of culture and storytelling.

From a traditional Maharashtra ritual to the international stage of the Oscars, Gondhal has already travelled a remarkable distance. The next chapter will be watched closely as the film begins its journey towards the 2027 Academy Awards.

Diljit Dosanjh releases ‘Sanson Ki Mala Pe’ from Wembley: Here’s the Timeless song’s journey across generations

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 16:42:36 +0530

When Diljit Dosanjh took the stage at Wembley Stadium during his Aura World Tour 2026, he did more than perform a classic. He brought back a piece of musical nostalgia that has travelled across generations. During his historic September 12 performance, Diljit became the first Punjabi artist to headline Wembley, a stadium with a capacity of around 90,000. And when he performed “Sanson Ki Mala Pe”, the atmosphere turned deeply emotional, with the audience joining him in a moment that felt like a tribute to a song that has lived many musical lives.

Sanson Ki Mala: The Timeless Classic of All Times

Diljit’s rendition is only the latest chapter in the long journey of “Sanson Ki Mala Pe”. From Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan to Madhur Sharma, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and several film adaptations, the song has repeatedly been given a new sound while keeping its soul intact.

Diljit Dosanjh Releases Sanson Ki Mala Pe

Diljit Dosanjh gave “Sanson Ki Mala Pe” a beautiful new moment during his historic Wembley Stadium concert in September 2026. Known for his energetic performances, Diljit took a softer and more soulful route with this timeless classic, paying tribute to the legendary Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. As the music played and thousands of fans held their phone lights up in the air, the stadium turned into a sea of lights and emotions. His rendition felt less like a regular concert performance and more like a heartfelt tribute to a song that has been loved for generations. It was a moment filled with nostalgia, respect and pure emotion proving once again that some songs can bring an entire audience together, no matter how many years have passed.

Mirzapur: The Movie Gives It a New Life

The song is currently enjoying another major revival through Mirzapur: The Movie. The 2026 soundtrack features Madhur Sharma on vocals, with Vaibhav Pani handling the music production and a musical foundation connected to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s composition and vocals.

Its appearance in the film adds an interesting emotional layer. The song is used around a pivotal sequence involving Beena Tripathi, played by Rasika Dugal, where devotion, silence and betrayal come together in an unusual contrast. Dugal has spoken about how the song expresses emotions that her character cannot say aloud.

From Khan Saab to Diljit

For many listeners, however, the name most closely associated with “Sanson Ki Mala Pe” remains Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. The qawwali became part of his musical legacy and was reportedly performed by him during his first visit to India in 1979. His Birmingham performance in 1983 is among the celebrated versions associated with the song’s journey.

Ustaad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

Nusrat’s version had the freedom of a traditional qawwali performance allowing the melody to breathe, expand and build through improvisation. Recordings of the song have appeared in different lengths, including an 18-minute-plus version, showing just how much space the composition could occupy in a live musical setting.

The Song’s Bollywood Journey

“Sanson Ki Mala” has also had a fascinating journey through Hindi cinema. It was recreated for Jeet (1996) with music by Nadeem-Shravan and subsequently appeared in Koyla (1997), where Rajesh Roshan recomposed the song and Kavita Krishnamurthy lent her voice.

The original Nusrat version later found its way into Michael Winterbottom’s Trishna (2011). The song was also reimagined as “Simroon Tera Naam” for Yaariyan 2 in 2023, giving the familiar emotional idea another contemporary film treatment.

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Other Modern Versions

The legacy naturally reached Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Nusrat’s nephew and disciple. In 2020, Rahat released his own version as a tribute to Nusrat and his father, Ustad Farrukh Fateh Ali Khan.

The song has also travelled far beyond traditional qawwali. Modern musicians and creators have experimented with acoustic, fusion and even heavy-metal interpretations, including a viral guitar version by Andre Antunes built around Nusrat’s original vocals.

But Where Did “Sanson Ki Mala Pe” Come From?

At its heart, “Sanson Ki Mala” is about complete surrender to love and the divine. The central thought remembering the beloved with every breath turns breathing itself into an act of devotion. That is what makes the song so powerful: it can sound like a prayer, a love song or a spiritual confession, depending on how you hear it.

The song is also surrounded by an interesting history of authorship. It has long been popularly associated with the medieval Bhakti saint Mirabai, because of its Krishna-devotional imagery. However, literary records also connect the modern ghazal text beginning “Sanson ki mala par simrun nis-din pi ka naam” with Pakistani poet and lyricist Tufail Hoshiarpuri, whose work appeared in his 1995 poetry collection Soch Mala. Earlier commercial releases of Nusrat’s recording had credited the lyrics as “Traditional,” which added to the confusion around its origins. The lyrics are widely associated with Mirabai, the medieval Bhakti poet and Krishna devotee, because of their strong themes of devotion and longing. However, literary records also credit Tufail Hoshiarpuri with the modern ghazal version, creating an attribution history that is more complicated than popular culture often suggests.

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At its heart, the line “Sanson ki mala pe, simroon main pi ka naam” expresses a simple but powerful thought: with every breath, remember the name of the beloved. That beloved can be understood through romantic love, spiritual devotion or complete surrender to the divine.

And perhaps that is why the song refuses to grow old.

From Nusrat Sahib’s powerful qawwali gatherings to Bollywood, from Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Madhur Sharma to Diljit Dosanjh’s Wembley stage, “Sanson Ki Mala Pe” keeps changing its voice without losing its heartbeat.

Different artists, different eras, different arrangements but when those first notes play, the feeling is still the same. A little nostalgia. A little devotion. And, somehow, goosebumps.

Rashmika Mandanna meets M.S. Subbulakshmi’s family ahead of biopic; Know who the legendary singer was

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 18:15:46 +0530

Rashmika Mandanna is all set to take on one of the most challenging and meaningful roles of her career. The actor has been chosen to portray legendary Carnatic singer M.S. Subbulakshmi in the upcoming biopic MS: A Legacy On Screen. Soon after the film’s launch, Rashmika met members of Subbulakshmi’s family at a temple, along with producers Bunny Vasu and Rockline Venkatesh.

The makers shared a special video from the meeting, describing the occasion as one filled with “love, respect and gratitude.” The family’s support has also added an emotional significance to Rashmika’s journey of bringing the legendary singer’s story to the screen.

Rashmika Expresses Her Gratitude

During the meeting, Rashmika spoke about how honoured she feels to portray M.S. Subbulakshmi. She expressed that her heart was filled with gratitude and spoke about the spiritual quality she feels in the singer’s voice.

Calling Subbulakshmi’s music a blessing, Rashmika said she feels grateful for being chosen to become a small part of the musician’s life through cinema. She also promised to give the role her best.

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At the film’s launch, chief guest Kamal Haasan encouraged Rashmika to approach the character with confidence. He particularly highlighted the importance of bringing Subbulakshmi’s compassion to the screen, telling Rashmika that expressing that emotion through her eyes would be an important part of her performance.

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Who Was M.S. Subbulakshmi?

M.S. Subbulakshmi, born in Madurai in 1916, was one of India’s most celebrated Carnatic classical singers. Affectionately known as M.S. Amma, she played a major role in taking Indian classical and devotional music to audiences across the world.

Coming from a musical family, she began performing at a very young age and gave her first public performance when she was just 11. Her extraordinary career also extended to cinema, with her most famous film role being the saint-poet in the 1945 Tamil film Meera.

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Her achievements reached far beyond India. She became the first Indian to perform at the United Nations General Assembly in 1966 and received several prestigious honours, including the Ramon Magsaysay Award, Padma Vibhushan and, in 1998, the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award.

What To Expect From MS: A Legacy On Screen

Directed by Gowtam Tinnanuri, known for the National Award-winning film Jersey, the biopic aims to bring the remarkable journey and legacy of M.S. Subbulakshmi to a new generation.

Anirudh Ravichander is composing the film’s soundtrack and background score. While the makers have kept many details under wraps, Rashmika’s emotional connection to the role and her meeting with Subbulakshmi’s family have already created curiosity around the project.

Shah Rukh Khan answers fans during #AskSRK session ahead of King’s Release: “Bullseye Is The Target

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 17:00:27 +0530

Shah Rukh Khan recently interacted with his fans during his latest #AskSRK session as his upcoming film King moves closer to its official release. With the film now just 100 days away, the Bollywood superstar took questions from fans and responded to a variety of topics, from the target for King to his appearance, display picture and working with his best friends.

The session featured several short and playful answers from Shah Rukh Khan, giving fans a chance to hear directly from the actor on different subjects.

“Bullseye is the target”

One of the questions during the session was about the target for King. Shah Rukh Khan kept his answer short and clear, saying, “Bullseye is the target.”

The response came as fans continued to ask the actor about the film during the #AskSRK interaction, which is taking place as the countdown to its release reaches the 100-day mark.

Shah Rukh Khan talks about his handsomeness and hair

The actor also responded to questions about his appearance. When the conversation turned towards his growing handsomeness and hair, Shah Rukh Khan chose to joke about it. His light-hearted response added a playful moment to the session, as fans continued sending questions under the #AskSRK hashtag.

His black-and-white display picture

Another fan asked Shah Rukh Khan about his black-and-white display picture. The actor responded to the question during the session, addressing the choice of the picture. The question was among the many personal and casual queries that fans put forward while interacting with the superstar.

“Fidgets” is his unusual answer

Shah Rukh Khan also faced a rather unusual question when a fan asked him which useless skill he would like to become an expert at. His answer was simple: “Fidgets.” The brief response became another playful moment in the latest #AskSRK session.

Talking about his best friends

During the interaction, Shah Rukh Khan also spoke positively about working with his best friends. The conversation further included a possible reunion involving Deepika Padukone and Rani Mukerji. Shah Rukh Khan responded positively while discussing the possibility, making it another notable part of the fan interaction.

Shah Rukh Khan praises a project and its team

The actor was also asked about a project and shared that he loved both parts of it. He went on to praise the entire team behind the project. His response reflected his appreciation for both parts of the project as well as the people who worked on it.

A candid #AskSRK session

The latest #AskSRK session saw Shah Rukh Khan answer questions in his own short and playful way. From saying “Bullseye is the target” for King to answering “Fidgets” when asked about a useless skill, the actor addressed a range of questions from his fans.

As King reaches the 100-day countdown to its official release, Shah Rukh Khan's interaction gave fans the opportunity to hear his responses directly through the latest #AskSRK session.