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How this Marathi language Indian film is challenging stereotypes about queer rural life

October 21, 2025

"Sabar Bonda" (Cactus Pears) is a groundbreaking Marathi film that explores queer relationships in rural India, challenging the notion that queerness is exclusively an "urban elite" phenomenon. Directed by Rohan Parashuram, who draws from his own experiences as a queer man with working-class roots, the film follows Anand, a call-center worker who returns to his village after his father's death and develops a relationship with his childhood friend Balya. The film has received critical acclaim, winning the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize at Sundance 2025, and offers a nuanced portrayal of queer love, family acceptance, and belonging in rural settings without relying on stereotypical trauma narratives.

Who is affected

  • Queer individuals in rural India whose experiences are typically overlooked in mainstream cinema
  • Indian filmmakers and audiences seeking authentic queer representation beyond urban settings
  • The broader LGBTQ+ community in India navigating life after the Supriyo judgment
  • Viewers of Indian cinema looking for stories that challenge conventional romantic tropes
  • Speakers of Marathi and other vernacular languages who rarely see queer narratives in their own language

What action is being taken

  • "Sabar Bonda" is screening in select theaters across India as of September 19, 2025
  • Film critics and reviewers are positively evaluating and promoting the film, with the Film Critics Guild rating it 8.6/10
  • The film is actively challenging stereotypical portrayals of queer relationships by focusing on intimate character development rather than trauma narratives
  • Director Rohan Parashuram is sharing his personal perspective through interviews, explaining his approach to storytelling

Why it matters

  • The film directly challenges the Indian government's claim that queerness is only an "urban elite" phenomenon
  • It provides rare representation of queer relationships in rural India and in the Marathi language
  • The film explores queer life in the aftermath of the Supriyo judgment, which affirmed queer authenticity but denied marriage rights
  • "Sabar Bonda" offers a new narrative approach by avoiding typical coming-out trauma stories and instead showing quiet family acceptance
  • The film's success at Sundance 2025 brings international attention to queer Indian stories

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Global Voices