Executive producer Nikkhil Advani has hailed the Sundance Film Festival victory of Sabar Bonda as a landmark moment for Indian cinema, calling the Grand Jury Prize in the World Cinema: Dramatic category “a turning point.”
Nikkhil Advani hails Sabar Bonda’s victory at Sundance Film Festival; says, “It is a story deeply rooted in our soil, yet utterly universal in its resonance”
Directed by Rohan Kanawade, Sabar Bonda is set for a theatrical release on September 19, 2025. The film has already made its mark internationally by becoming the first-ever Indian fiction feature to win at Sundance in that category.
Nikhil stated, “To become the first-ever Indian fiction feature to win at Sundance is not just a milestone, it marks a turning point for Indian cinema on the global stage. What Sabar Bonda has achieved is historic. Sundance is where some of the most iconic voices of world cinema – Christopher Nolan, Wes Anderson, the Coen Brothers were first discovered, and now, through Rohan and Sabar Bonda, India stands on that same map of discovery and credibility.”
Advani also spoke of the film’s narrative qualities and stated, “What makes this moment truly special is that the honour has gone to a story like Sabar Bonda, a film that portrays India with rare honesty and affection, an India where tradition and progress co-exist. It is a story deeply rooted in our soil, yet utterly universal in its resonance.”
On the talent behind the film, he said, “Rohan Kanawade represents the very best of a new generation of storytellers. His journey from humble beginnings to the world’s most prestigious stage is a reminder of why we make films: to connect, to move, to endure. As an Executive Producer, I am honoured to back his vision, but more than that, as an Indian filmmaker, I feel immense pride in what Sundance Grand Jury Prize win means for all of us. This is not just Rohan’s victory, it is India’s.”
Sabar Bonda’s trailer was unveiled in Mumbai today. The film is being distributed by Spirit Media, founded by Rana Daggubati, which has previously brought notable international cinema into India.
This Sundance triumph, combined with the film’s native sensibilities and global appeal, marks not only a personal victory for its creators, but potentially a new chapter in how Indian stories are perceived on the world stage.
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