Sabar Bonda
Rohan Parashuram Kanawade · India, United Kingdom, Canada · 2025 · 112 min
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Anand, a call-center employee in Mumbai, is forced to spend ten days at his ancestral village to mourn the loss of his father at the behest of his mother, Suman. As the mourning period begins post-cremation, he faces subtle but relentless badgering from relatives to get married so that at least his mother finds the pleasure of seeing him settled. Anand finds himself stifled, as coming out to extended family could alienate his mother from the relatives when she needs them the most. He finds solace in his childhood friend, Balya, as he accompanies him on his daily outings into the mountains to herd goats. Balya has been using the ‘educated girls favoring city-dwellers over farmers’ as a ruse to stay unmarried as he undergoes similar pressures relating to his sexuality from his family.
To escape their pressures, the two men spend time together. Hailing from different worldsbut bound by childhood memories, they connect over their common struggle. As the days pass, their intimacy blooms emotionally and physically. With the mourning period ending, will their burgeoning bond survives beyond the ten days? The film explores the delicate bonds that develop under duress and the future of it.
Fiction · Drama, Romance · 18+
Language: Marathi
Themes: LGBTQ
Screenplay: Rohan Parashuram Kanawade
Producers: Neeraj Churi, Mohamed Khaki, Kaushik Ray, Naren Chandavarkar, Sidharth Meer, Hareesh Reddypalli, Rohan Parashuram Kanawade
Editor: Anadi Athaley
Cinematographer: Vikas Urs
Key cast: Bhushaan Manoj, Suraaj Suman, Jayshri Jagtap
My personal experiences shaped the film to reflect the realities of lower-class queer life in India, challenging the misconception that queer experiences are limited to the upper class. By weaving together urban and rural experiences, the film aims to normalize queerness and celebrate its presence in all layers of society. The characters of the parents in the film are inspired by my parents whose love and wisdom led them to accept my sexuality without any conflict. By highlighting this aspect of acceptance without sensationalizing struggle, the film offers a fresh perspective that redefines queer narratives and fosters hope. — Rohan Parashuram Kanawade
