Sundance Winner Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears) Unveils Trailer, Sets Indian Theatrical Release for September 19, Distributed by Rana Daggubati’s Spirit Media

 

Rohan Kanawade’s Sabar Bonda made history as the first Indian fiction feature to win the Grand Jury Prize, the highest honor at the Sundance Film Festival. The film is now backed by an eminent slate of Executive Producers, including Nagraj Manjule , Nikkhil Advani, Saie Tamhankar and Vikramaditya Motwane

Official Trailer - Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears)

Portraits of the Executive Producers (Nagraj Manjule, Nikkhil Advani, Saie Tamhankar and Vikramaditya Motwane)
Director Rohan Parashuram Kanawade Portrait (Image Credit: Mat Hayward, Getty Images)

Mumbai, September 1, 2025 – 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.

Speaking on the release of the trailer of Sabar Bonda, Rana Daggubati of Spirit Media shared “Sabar Bonda is a tender yet powerful film, deeply rooted in its characters while speaking to something universal. Winning the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance is a landmark moment for the film and for Indian cinema at large. With Sabar Bonda, Rohan has delivered a remarkable debut! Spirit Media is proud to bring this film to audiences in India and to champion its journey as it reaches the world.”

Speaking at release of the trailer and on the incredible support from industry stalwarts championing the film, Rohan Parashuram Kanawade, writer-director of Sabar Bonda, said, “This film is a part of me, shaped by the people and moments that have made me who I am. To watch it grow from an idea to finding recognition at Sundance, and now finally bringing it home, feels deeply humbling and overwhelming. Partnering with Spirit Media to release this film in India is truly special. What makes this journey even more meaningful is the support of incredible filmmakers like Nagraj Manjule, Nikkhil Advani, Saie Tamhankar and Vikramaditya Motwane who have come on board as Executive Producers. To have such voices championing Sabar Bonda is both an honor and a source of great strength.”

Reflecting on the film’s impact and his involvement, Nagraj Manjule  shared “As someone who has seen Marathi cinema grow and evolve, it fills me with pride to see a film like Sabar Bonda break through on a world stage. Rohan’s storytelling is both intimate and expansive, it represents the best of what our cinema can achieve. Supporting Rohan and this extraordinary debut felt important because films like this need to be seen, discussed, and celebrated. I’m honoured to be part of its journey home to theatres in India”

Speaking about his decision to back Sabar Bonda, Executive Producer Nikkhil Advani shared “Sabar Bonda is cinema at its purest! It is authentic, universal, and unforgettable. What moved me most was the gentleness and honesty with which Rohan tells this story. For a debut feature to carry this kind of maturity and vision is remarkable. Supporting this journey as the film finds its way back to India feels truly special to me, because films like this remind us why cinema matters. I hope audiences seize the chance to experience this masterpiece in theatres when it releases on September 19.”

Speaking about her association with Sabar Bonda as an Executive Producer, Saie Tamhankar shared, “I am very happy to come on board as an Executive Producer and champion this film. Sabar Bonda is such a beautiful, tender story, told with a rare gentleness. Rohan has created a world where the characters live and breathe with such honesty that they stay with you long after the film ends. I truly believe audiences in India will connect with its heart and beauty, and I feel proud to stand by a film that marks such an exciting new chapter not just for Marathi cinema but also for Indian cinema as a whole.

“Sabar Bonda is rooted in its culture yet speaks to everyone with a voice that’s universal.” said Executive Producer Vikramaditya Motwane, he further added, “Rohan has created something truly special, brought to life by a phenomenal cast, and I’m proud to stand behind a film like this. For a self-taught filmmaker to win the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance with his debut is a landmark moment. I’m thrilled that audiences here will soon get to watch it on the big screen.”

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 and Ilana Girard as Executive Producer, the film is a remarkable achievement for Marathi cinema.

Alongside its Indian theatrical release, 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.

 

Key Credits
Director and screenwriter

Rohan Parashuram Kanawade

 

Cast

Bhushaan Manoj

Jayshri Jagtap

Suraaj Suman

 

Cinematographer

Vikas Urs

 

Editor

Anadi Athaley

 

Colourist

Himanshu Kamble

 

Sound designers

Anirban Borthakur and Naren Chandavarkar

 

Costume designer

Sachin Lovalekar

 

 

About Rohan Kanawade

Rohan comes from a humble background, raised in a one-room house in a Mumbai slum by a chauffeur father and homemaker mother. He is a self-made filmmaker with a background in interior design. His short films have been screened globally. His first feature Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears) was developed in the Venice Biennale College Cinema 2022-2023 under the working title Arms of a Man. It was also part of Film London Production Finance Market 2021, NFDC Marathi Script Camp 2021, Film Bazaar 2022, Venice Gap Financing Market 2023 and Goes to Cannes 2024. It went on to become the first ever Indian fiction film to win the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.

 

About The Producers

Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears) is produced by Neeraj Churi (Lotus Visual Productions, UK), Mohamed Khaki (Canada), Kaushik Ray (Taran Tantra Telefilms, UK), Naren Chandavarkar (Moonweave Films, India), Sidharth Meer (Bridge PostWorks, India), & Hareesh Reddypalli (Dark Stories, India), along with co-producer Jim Sarbh (Wonderful Entertainment, India) & Neha Kaul (Thirty Nine By Six, India) and associate producer Rajesh Parwatkar (UK).

 

About Spirit Media

Founded in 2005 by Rana Daggubati, Spirit Media is a new-age media business specializing in original content development and distribution, talent management, creative brand marketing services, and a blockchain-enabled digital content marketplace. With substantial investments in world-class infrastructure, content libraries, and intellectual properties, Spirit Media - with its headquarters in Hyderabad, India, is positioned to deliver unique and engaging narratives that resonate with audiences.