Revered filmmaker Mira Nair will present Rohan Parashuram Kanawade’s “Cactus Pears” (Sabar Bonda) for its North American release, with support from Payal Kapadia, whose “All We Imagine as Light” earned international acclaim last year.
The Marathi-language film follows Anand (Bhushaan Manoj), a 30-something city dweller compelled to spend a 10-day mourning period for his father in the rugged countryside of western India, where he tenderly bonds with a local farmer Balya (Suraaj Suman) struggling to stay unmarried.
The feature, which won the top international prize at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and was subsequently selected for New Directors/New Films, launched with acclaim at multiple festivals globally, including SXSW London, where it won the Grand Jury Prize, and domestically at the San Francisco International Film Festival.
“A rural gay story that begins in a state of mourning and melancholy, it eventually takes on radiant form, with emotional complexities born out of characters walking around the truth, if only because euphemisms are the only language they have,” said the Variety review of the film.
Strand Releasing, which acquired North American rights, has also unveiled a new trailer for the film.
The film is produced by Neeraj Churi, Mohamed Khaki, Kaushik Ray, Hareesh Reddypalli, Naren Chandavarkar, and Sidharth Meer, with Ilann Girard and Kishor Vasant Sawant serving as executive producers.
“We are deeply honored to have Mira Nair present ‘Cactus Pears’ for its North American release,” said the producers. “Her films have always shown us that independent cinema’s greatest power lies in telling stories others won’t tell, in voices others won’t amplify. That being radically specific — whether in the streets of Mumbai or the fields of Maharashtra — is how you touch hearts universally. We could not have hoped for anyone better to present our beautifully local story to the world.”
Kapadia offered high praise for the film, saying: “I was so deeply moved by ‘Cactus Pears’ — it captures longing, grief and tenderness in a way that lingers long after the film ends. An intense and tender tale of a quiet romance — a rare gift of a film that makes you want to reach out and hold the hand of a person you love.”
Kanawade responded to Kapadia’s endorsement: “Last year, Payal Kapadia and her beautiful film ‘All We Imagine as Light’ were celebrated not only in India but across the world for the bold and artistically rich storytelling. To know that ‘Cactus Pears’ moved her so deeply feels both exhilarating and truly humbling as a fellow filmmaker whose work I deeply admire. Her poetic response has filled me with tremendous encouragement.”
Strand Releasing will open “Cactus Pears” on Nov. 21 in New York exclusively at the IFC Center, with Nair presenting the film during opening weekend, followed by a discussion with Kanawade. The film will open in Los Angeles at Laemmle’s Royal Theatre on Nov. 28, with Chicago, San Francisco and Seattle dates to follow. Strand is planning an aggressive platform release across North America.
“We’re certain that ‘Cactus Pears’ will resonate with audiences in North America and that we’re helping set the pace for the film’s success and future for Kanawade’s career,” said Marcus Hu, co-president of Strand Releasing.
