Exclusive | 'Sabar Bonda' Makers React To World Cinema Grand Jury Prize At Sundance 2025; Call It 'Victory For Indian Cinema'

"Authentic, heartfelt stories will always find their audience," says filmmaker Rohan Parashuram Kanawade, whose feature Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears) has won the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic at the Sundance Film Festival 2025, a feat that hasn't been achieved by any Marathi film earlier.

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The only Indian and South Asian feature in competition this year, Sabar Bonda, starring Bhushaan Manoj, Suraaj Suman, and Jayshri Jagtap, is billed as a deeply moving tale of love, loss, and self-discovery.

While presenting the award, the Sundance jury, comprising Ava Cahen, Daniel Kaluuya, and Wanuri Kahiu, called Sabar Bonda the "great modern love story" that the world "needs right now."

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According to the makers, Sabar Bonda—set against the breathtaking landscapes of western India—follows Anand, a man grappling with personal grief and societal expectations, as he returns to his ancestral village for a mourning ritual. There, he reconnects with Balya, a childhood friend facing similar struggles, setting off a journey that is "tender, emotional, and quietly revolutionary."

"To say it's an honour to award this tender film is an understatement. We cried, we laughed, and we wished to be loved in the same way," the jury said.

"It is exactly what the world needs right now. This authentic point of view opens the door to an intimate language we all understand. We feel the humming heartbeat of the main character's inner life, and when it bursts, it wraps us with its sweetness."

Overwhelmed by the film’s historic win, Kanawade shared, "Winning at Sundance is every independent filmmaker’s dream, and for Sabar Bonda to be recognised in such a monumental way is beyond words. This film is personal, it’s universal, and this award proves that authentic, heartfelt stories will always find their audience—no matter where they come from. This is a victory for Marathi cinema, Indian cinema, and for every filmmaker dreaming of telling their story!"

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On behalf of the producers, lead producer Neeraj Churi said the recognition is a "testament" to Kanawade's vision, and the talented team that came together to achieve it.

"Sabar Bonda is a story rooted in Maharashtra, but the themes of grief and love are universal. We cannot wait to bring the lm home to India, and to share it with the rest of the world," Churi added.

The film is backed by a team of producers—Churi (UK), Mohamed Khaki (Canada), Kaushik Ray (UK), Naren Chandavarkar (India), Sidharth Meer (India), and Hareesh Reddypalli (India)—along with co-producer actor Jim Sarbh and associate producer Rajesh Parwatkar.

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The World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic is one of the most prestigious awards at Sundance, recognising outstanding international films that push the boundaries of storytelling and filmmaking.

Sabar Bonda has been on an extraordinary journey right from its early days at the Venice Biennale College Cinema 2022-2023, with screenings at Film London Production Finance Market, NFDC Film Bazaar, Venice Gap Financing Market, and Goes to Cannes.