Releasing in Indian Cinemas
September 19th, 2025
Initial Release in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kochi, Nagpur, Pune, Nashik, Beed, Kolhapur and Nanded.
Book Tickets
Sabar Bonda | Cactus Pears
A thirty-something city-dweller compelled to spend a ten-day mourning period for his father in the rugged countryside of Western India tenderly bonds with a local farmer struggling to stay unmarried. As the mourning ends, forcing his return, he must decide the fate of his relationship born under duress.
Awards
Grand Jury Prize - Dramatic, Sundance Film Festival 2025
Maguey Award for Best Film - Festival Internacional de Cine de Guadalajara
Best Feature Film - SxSW London
Audience Award - Best Narrative Feature, Inside Out
Audience Choice Award - Best Feature, IFFLA
Global Visions - Hon'ble Mention - San Fransisco Int'l Film Festival
Best Feature Film - Sunny Bunny
Festivals
Sundance Film Festival 2025
Göteborg Film Festival 2025
New Directors New Films, MoMA, 2025
Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival, 2025
San Francisco International Film Festival, 2025
Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema (BAFICI) 2025
Festival du Film de Cabourg 2025
SxSW London 2025
Inside Out, Toronto 2025
Nowe Horizonty, Poland 2025
New Zealand Int'l Film Festival 2025
In the Press
A Tender Queer Indian Drama Born of Grief | Variety ⚭
‘Special Friends’ Reunite During a Period of Mourning in Poetic Marathi-Language Debut | IndieWire ⚭
Sundance 2025: How Editor Anadi Athaley Brought “Sabar Bonda” to Life with Premiere Pro | Adobe ⚭
A tender, affecting film told with warmth, sensitivity | Indian Express ⚭
Strand Releasing acquires North American rights to Sundance winner ‘Sabar Bonda’ | The Hindu ⚭
Sundance Winner ‘Cactus Pears’ Scores Best Feature Film Award at Inaugural SXSW London | Variety ⚭
Sundance-Winning ‘Cactus Pears’ Director Rohan Kanawade Signs With Cinetic Media | Variety ⚭
Grief and Identity: How Rohan Kanawade’s Film Sabar Bonda Captured My Heart and History | GLAAD ⚭
Credits
Edited by
Anadi Athaley
Directed by
Rohan Parshuram Kanawade
Produced by
Neeraj Churi
Mohamed Khaki
Kaushik Ray
Harish Reddypalli
Rohan Parshuram Kanawade
Naren Chandavarkar
Sidharth Meer