Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears), the first-ever Indian fiction feature to win the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, launched its trailer today at a special press event in Mumbai. The film, written and directed by Rohan Parashuram Kanawade, is set to release in theatres across India on 19th September 2025, distributed by Rana Daggubati’s Spirit Media, which previously distributed the acclaimed Cannes Grand Prix winner All We Imagine as Light in India.
Selected from around 17,000 submissions worldwide, it stood as India’s only feature in competition and marked another milestone as the first Marathi-language film ever to premiere at the festival. The film follows Anand, a city-dweller grappling with personal loss and familial pressures, as he embarks on a 10-day mourning ritual in his ancestral village. Amid the rugged beauty of western India, he finds solace and connection with Balya, a childhood friend facing similar societal expectations. With a powerful ensemble cast led by Bhushaan Manoj, Suraaj Suman, and Jayshri Jagtap, the film tenderly explores the fragile bonds of love and companionship
In a momentous development, acclaimed filmmakers Nagraj Manjule, Nikkhil Advani, Saie Tamhankar and Vikramaditya Motwane have come on board as Executive Producers for Sabar Bonda to champion the film. Their support not only amplifies the film’s reach in India but also reinforces the cultural significance of this landmark project, placing Sabar Bonda among defining works of Indian cinema and a global celebration of Marathi storytelling.
Talking about Sabar Bonda, Executive Producer Nikkhil Advani said, “What Sabar Bonda has achieved is historic. To become the first-ever Indian fiction feature to win at Sundance is not just a milestone, it marks a turning point for Indian cinema on the global stage. Sundance is where some of the most iconic voices of world cinema - Christopher Nolan, Wes Anderson, the Coen Brothers were first discovered, and now, through Rohan and Sabar Bonda, India stands on that same map of discovery and credibility.”
He added, “What makes this moment truly special is that the honour has gone to a story like Sabar Bonda, a film that portrays India with rare honesty and affection, an India where tradition and progress co-exist. It is a story deeply rooted in our soil, yet utterly universal in its resonance.
Talking about the writer - director - Rohan Kanawade, Nikkhil Advani said, “Rohan Kanawade represents the very best of a new generation of storytellers. His journey from humble beginnings to the world’s most prestigious stage is a reminder of why we make films: to connect, to move, to endure. As an Executive Producer, I am honoured to back his vision, but more than that, as an Indian filmmaker, I feel immense pride in what Sundance Grand Jury Prize win means for all of us. This is not just Rohan’s victory, it is India’s."
Developed under the Venice Biennale College Cinema 2022-2023 and NFDC Marathi script camp and presented at global platforms like the Film London Production Finance Market, NFDC Marathi Script Camp, Film Bazaar Co-Production Market, Venice Gap Financing Market, and Goes to Cannes, Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears) showcases the finest talents of an international collaborative effort. Produced by Neeraj Churi (UK), Mohamed Khaki (Canada), Kaushik Ray (UK), Naren Chandavarkar (India), Sidharth Meer (India), and Hareesh Reddypalli (India), with co-producer, Neha Kaul and acclaimed actor Jim Sarbh and associate producer Rajesh Parwatkar the film is a remarkable achievement for Marathi cinema.
Sabar Bonda has secured North American distribution with Strand Releasing, the celebrated arthouse banner known for championing bold, visionary filmmakers across the globe. MPM Premium is overseeing the global sales of Sabar Bonda.