Sundance-Winning ‘Cactus Pears' Director Rohan Kanawade Signs With Cinetic Media (EXCLUSIVE)
Kanawade's debut feature made history as the first Marathi-language film and first Indian fiction title to claim Sundance's top World Cinema Dramatic Competition honor this past January.
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'It's an incredible honor to be represented by Cinetic Media, a company known for championing cinema that pushes creative boundaries and defies conventional norms,' Kanawade told Variety. 'For a story as personal and intimate as 'Sabar Bonda' to find global resonance – and now, a team that believes in its journey as much as we do – is both humbling and empowering. This partnership isn't just about where the film goes next – it's about what kinds of stories get to be seen, heard, and remembered. I hope this marks the beginning of a longer arc for regional, authentic and emotionally grounded Indian stories to travel across languages and borders.'
In 'Cactus Pears,' a 30-something city dweller named Anand is forced to spend a 10-day mourning period for his father in rural western India, where he forms an unexpected bond with a local farmer struggling to remain unmarried. The emotionally resonant drama has connected with audiences across borders since its Sundance triumph.
The film will receive a theatrical release via Strand Releasing this fall, following a festival run that included New Directors/New Films, San Francisco Film Festival (where it won the Special Jury Prize – Visions), and the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (winner of the Audience Choice Award for Best Feature).
Marcus Hu of Strand Releasing said: 'Strand is thrilled to hear this news and what a great partnership for the filmmaking team to get this representation.'
Neeraj Churi, a producer on the film and founder of Lotus Visual Productions, added: 'While Cinetic Media has always aimed to champion films and filmmakers that are bold and original, this development reaffirms that the global film industry is expanding its gaze, ready to embrace not only big cinema but brave cinema. We also acknowledge the unique role played by NFDC lab, Co-pro market and India Cine Hub grant in shaping and propelling the film and Rohan into the international arena. With MPM premium, Strand Releasing and Cinetic, we are excited to collaborate with a team that truly understands nuance and recognizes the potential of Indian independent cinema in all its emotional complexity.'
Kanawade's personal journey adds another layer to the film's success story. Raised in a one-room house in a Mumbai slum by a chauffeur father and illiterate homemaker mother, he is a self-made filmmaker with a background in interior design. His short films have screened globally, and 'Cactus Pears' was developed in the Venice Biennale College Cinema 2022-2023, and was also included in the Film London Production Finance Market 2021, NFDC Marathi Script Camp 2021, Film Bazaar 2022, Venice Gap Financing Market 2023 and Goes to Cannes 2024.
The cast includes Bhushaan Manoj, Jayshri Jagtap, and Suraaj Suman. Behind the camera, Vikas Urs handled cinematography, with Anadi Athaley editing and Anirban Borthakur and Naren Chandavarkar as sound designers.
Cinetic will represent Kanawade across all media.
'Cactus Pears' is produced by Neeraj Churi (Lotus Visual Productions, U.K.), Mohamed Khaki (Canada), Kaushik Ray (Taran Tantra Telefilms, U.K.), Naren Chandavarkar (Moonweave Films, India), Sidharth Meer (Bridge PostWorks, India) and Hareesh Reddypalli (Dark Stories, India), along with co-producer Jim Sarbh (Wonderful Entertainment, India) and associate producer Rajesh Parwatkar (U.K.).Best of Variety
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