# Gondhal review: split verdict on slow-burn Oscar entry 2026-11-13T11:49:36+00:00 | Entertainment | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 2 independent outlets Outlets counted: 123telugu.com, news9live.com Marathi film Gondhal, India’s official entry to the 99th Academy Awards, hit theatres on 13 November. Reviews are split between cautious praise and outright enthusiasm. The thriller, set over a single night in rural Maharashtra, follows a woman trapped in a loveless marriage who plots to elope during a Gondhal ceremony. 123telugu.com gave it 3 out of 5 stars, noting the narrative’s slow pace may cause boredom and the folk subject may not appeal to all. It praised a 25-minute single-take opening sequence, Ilaiyaraaja’s music and AI-assisted Telugu lip-sync as stronger than what the Ramayana team achieved. News9live.com awarded 3.5 stars, calling it a must-watch and highlighting the ₹4 crore budget, the confidence of debut director Santosh Davakhar, and outstanding performances from the cast, especially Ishita Deshmukh. Both reviews agree on the technical achievements, Amalendu Chaudhary’s cinematography and the immersive atmosphere, but diverge on whether the leisurely storytelling is an asset or a liability. ## Indian Opinion Analysis The two reviews agree on the core strengths, a 25-minute single-take sequence, Ilaiyaraaja’s music and the AI-assisted Telugu lip-sync, but diverge on narrative judgement. 123telugu.com frames the slow pace as a potential flaw, warning of ‘boredom’ and a niche audience, while News9live.com treats the same pacing as part of a ‘gripping’ thriller and highlights the ₹4 crore budget as a mark of achievement. Neither review is government- or ideology-slanted, the difference sits between caution and enthusiasm over the same directorial choices. A balanced reading notes that both sources affirm the film’s technical craft, but a viewer’s verdict will rest on whether a leisurely, character-driven folk thriller fits their taste. The box office run and Oscar campaign will test audience appetite beyond the opening weekend. ## Coverage Coverage: 2 sources, 2 neutral - 123telugu.com (neutral report) cautions that slow pace may bore some viewers - news9live.com (neutral report) celebrates confidence of debut director, calls it gripping This brief was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Tags: Gondhal, Ilaiyaraaja, Ishita Deshmukh, Kishore Kadam, Santosh Davakhar Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/gondhal-review-split-verdict-on-slow-burn-oscar-entry/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/gondhal-review-split-verdict-on-slow-burn-oscar-entry/#story-in-brief Gate decision: pass (pass: linked qualifying outlets 2 of 2, relevance 6) Freshness: pass (fresh: newest qualifying source 2026-11-13 11:12Z (feed), 0.6 h old) Image: photograph. Source: https://cdn.123telugu.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/Gondhal-1.webp. How this brief was made: an AI model read the reports linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. Stance labels are editorial classifications of how each outlet framed this story, assigned by the same model, not ratings of the outlets. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/