The trailer for the much-anticipated romantic drama Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears) was released on Monday, with Rana Daggubati’s Spirit Media taking charge of its Indian distribution. Written and directed by Rohan Parashuram Kanawade in his feature directorial debut, the film has already made waves internationally, having premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival — where it became the first Marathi-language film ever to do so and went on to win the prestigious World Cinema Grand Jury Prize (Dramatic).
At the trailer launch, actor-producer Rana Daggubati offered insight into why Spirit Media chose to back Sabar Bonda, and how it fits into a larger vision for the future of Indian independent cinema.
“We’ve been trying to champion the cause of alternate storytelling for a while now,” Rana said. “About six months ago, we stepped out of our comfort zone with All We Imagine as Light, where we weren’t just focusing on Telugu cinema anymore — we aimed to take these stories across the country.”
For Rana, Sabar Bonda represents the next step in a growing effort to “institutionalise” alternative cinema viewing habits in India. “This film fits that space. Very rarely do filmmakers tell stories with such extreme personal truth, and Sabar Bonda is exactly that — it comes from a place that is deeply personal to the filmmaker.”
The strategy for distributing films like Sabar Bonda builds on lessons learned from the release of All We Imagine, another indie feature that Spirit Media successfully distributed. “With mainstream films, there’s a set formula: trailer launches, events, marketing cycles — it’s well understood. But for a film like All We Imagine, we realised it needs a very different kind of theatrical lifecycle.”
He explained how All We Imagine sustained a seven-week theatrical run — an increasingly rare feat in today’s market — by identifying and tapping into unique audience pockets within cities. “It gave us invaluable data on where the audiences for such films really are. This has helped us build a new framework for distributing indie films across India.”
Rana added that Sabar Bonda, being in Marathi, represents another challenge — and opportunity. “Each film demands a unique way of reaching its audience. This time, the story is in Marathi, so we’ve approached it differently again. Over the next 8–10 films, we hope to refine and scale this model across India. We’re still in the early stages, but we’re committed.”
More than just another indie romance, Sabar Bonda is a landmark moment for Marathi cinema on the global stage. Its Sundance success signals growing international interest in regional Indian voices, and Rana Daggubati’s involvement suggests that distribution models are evolving to support these stories at home as well.
As Indian audiences become more receptive to diverse and personal storytelling, platforms like Spirit Media are stepping up to ensure such films don’t just premiere at festivals — but find meaningful theatrical lives, too.