How ‘Sabar Bonda’ draws us into the heads and hearts of its lovers

Rohan Kanawade’s Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears) will be out in Indian cinemas after a months-long run in the international film festival circuit. Sabar Bonda was premiered in January at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic award. The Marathi movie will be released on September 19 by Rana Daggubati’s company Spirit Media.

Kanawade’s feature debut is a gay romance set in rural Maharashtra. Following his father’s death, Anand (Bhushaan Manoj) accompanies his mother (Jayshri Jagtap) to his ancestral village to observe the traditional mourning period. Anand’s liaison with his neighbour Balya (Suraaj Suman) unfolds discreetly, under the noses of family members.

Sabar Bonda is a carefully constructed chronicle of a love as taboo as it is thrilling. Kanawade and cinematographer Vikas Urs use the 1.66:1 aspect ratio throughout to depict the growing physical and emotional bond between the men. In a previous interview, Kanawade had said, “I told Vikas that the film needed to look ultra-simplistic and real – like life unfolding in front of the camera.”

Vikas Urs’s credits include Natesh Hegde’s Pedro (2021) and Vagachipani (2025), Jaishankar Aryar’s Shivamma (2022) and Abhijit Mazumdar’s Body (2024). A Film and Television Institute of India alum, Urs was deeply drawn to the autobiographical elements in Sabar Bonda – the film is inspired by the director’s...

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