Good news for Indian film lovers! Sabar Bonda, the first Indian fiction film to win the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, is set to release in Indian theatres on 19 September.
Directed by Rohan Parashuram Kanawade, the Marathi-language film is being distributed by Rana Daggubati’s Spirit Media.
Chosen from nearly 17,000 global submissions, Sabar Bonda was India’s only feature in competition and also became the first-ever Marathi film to premiere at Sundance.
The cast includes Bhushaan Manoj, Suraaj Suman, and Jayshri Jagtap. The story follows Anand, a city man dealing with grief and family pressure, as he performs a 10-day mourning ritual in his ancestral village.
Set against the raw beauty of western India, Anand finds unexpected comfort and connection with Balya, a childhood friend navigating similar societal struggles.
The film is backed by acclaimed filmmakers Nagraj Manjule, Nikkhil Advani, Sai Tamhankar, and Vikramaditya Motwane, who serve as executive producers.
Rana Daggubati’s Spirit Media is gaining attention for championing independent Indian cinema. Last year, they also distributed Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light, the Grand Prix winner at Cannes 2024.
Film fans have praised Rana and his team for supporting films that are more artistic and rooted, rather than commercial masala flicks.
Spirit Media follows a simple release strategy, skipping costly promotions and relying mainly on word-of-mouth to build buzz.
Rana is among the few Indian celebrities taking real action to bring home globally celebrated indie films. Fans are hopeful Spirit Media continues this trend of meaningful cinema releases.
