Indian cinema continues to find new ground on the international stage, as emerging filmmakers and bold regional voices redefine the scope of storytelling. An Assamese debut at the Busan International Film Festival and a Sundance-winning Marathi film preparing for its Indian release—capture the scale of this transformation. The #Newsdesk reports. 

Indian Cinema is experiencing a global breakthrough as Assamese Filmmaker Maharshi Tuhin Kashyap’s KOK KOK KOKOOOK premieres at the Busan International Film Festival 2025 and Rohan Parashuram Kanawade’s Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears), the first Indian Fiction Film to win the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, prepares for its Indian release with Rana Daggubati’s Spirit Media. These milestones celebrate regional storytelling, from Assam to Maharashtra, showcasing India’s diversity and creativity on the world stage.

Assamese Cinema at Busan: A Magical Leap Forward

The 30th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), scheduled from September 17–26, 2025, has selected KOK KOK KOKOOOK, the debut feature by Assamese filmmaker Maharshi Tuhin Kashyap, for its Vision Asia section. This recognition is a landmark not just for Kashyap but also for the wider Assamese film movement, which has steadily been gaining international recognition.

Produced by the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI), Kolkata, the film is a magic realist horror drama that explores the precarious lives of migrants fighting for identity in Guwahati. Kashyap, known for weaving poetry and realism into his earlier shorts, developed KOK KOK KOKOOOK as his final dissertation under the mentorship of filmmaker Dominic Sangma. His previous short films have travelled widely, but this feature debut marks his entry into the big league.

The Vision Asia section of BIFF is reserved for emerging voices that push the boundaries of Asian cinema. To be featured here is a recognition of Kashyap’s ability to blend personal storytelling with universal themes. As he says in his director’s statement, “This film is dedicated to the people of Assam, who once celebrated diversity without hesitation. I fear times and minds are changing. I hope this film stands as a testament of my existence, and of those who fight for identity every day.”

Featuring an ensemble cast including Raju Roy, Esther Jama Paulino Kenyi, Rupjyoti Das, Manik Roy, and Manoj Gogoi, the film promises a deeply textured exploration of belonging, set against the backdrop of a city that is both gritty and scenic. With its world premiere at Busan, Kashyap joins a select group of young Indian filmmakers whose regional roots fuel stories that resonate across borders.

Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears): From Sundance to Spirit Media

If Kashyap’s debut signals fresh beginnings, Rohan Parashuram Kanawade’s Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears) represents the fruition of a long journey. Earlier this year, the film created history at the Sundance Film Festival by becoming the first Indian fiction feature to win the coveted Grand Jury Prize. The film also broke new ground as the first Marathi-language film to premiere at Sundance, chosen from thousands of submissions worldwide.

The jury at Sundance hailed it as “the great modern love story,” praising its tenderness and universal appeal. Since then, the film has travelled across more than 25 international festivals, winning Best Feature Film, Audience Choice Awards, and Honourable Mentions at SXSW London, San Francisco International Film Festival, and IFFLA, among others.

Now, the film is set for its Indian release under the distribution of Rana Daggubati’s Spirit Media, the company that previously brought Cannes Grand Prix winner All We Imagine as Light to Indian theatres. For Kanawade, this homecoming holds special meaning. “This film reimagines one of the most intimate experiences of my life into a story about love, acceptance, and resilience,” he says. “To see it resonate across the world has been overwhelming, but bringing it home to India carries a different kind of fulfilment.”

Set in western India, Sabar Bonda follows Anand, a city-dweller dealing with personal loss, who returns to his ancestral village for a ten-day mourning ritual. There, he reconnects with Balya, a childhood friend, and the two navigate the weight of societal expectations against the rugged beauty of their surroundings. Starring Bhushaan Manoj, Suraaj Suman, and Jayshri Jagtap, the film delicately portrays personal relationships forged in hardship and celebrates the courage to embrace one’s truth.

The production itself was a global collaboration, developed under the Venice Biennale College Cinema 2022–2023 and supported by the NFDC Marathi script camp, Film Bazaar, and international markets in London, Venice, and Cannes. The producers—Neeraj Churi, Mohamed Khaki, Kaushik Ray, Naren Chandavarkar, Sidharth Meer, and Hareesh Reddypalli, along with co-producers Jim Sarbh and Neha Kaul—represent a diverse mix of India and the diaspora.

Rana Daggubati, speaking about Spirit Media’s partnership, emphasized the film’s cultural weight: “At Spirit Media, we champion great stories that transcend languages and borders. Sabar Bonda has carried Indian cinema to new heights globally. We’re thrilled to now bring the film home to Indian audiences who will find their own reflections in its beauty and truth.”

A Changing Narrative

Together, these two films—one from Assam, another from Maharashtra—demonstrate how the future of Indian cinema is being rewritten by regional and independent voices. No longer confined to Bollywood spectacle, Indian cinema today is led by creators who draw from deeply personal, regional, and political contexts to craft films that are resonating globally.  

The selection of KOK KOK KOKOOOK at Busan underscores the importance of nurturing young filmmakers emerging from institutions like SRFTI, while Sabar Bonda’s journey from Sundance to Indian theatres highlights the value of international recognition in opening domestic doors. Both films are rooted in regional cultures, yet their stories—of migration, identity, resilience, and love—speak to universal audiences.  

As Indian cinema stands at a turning point, these milestones suggest that the next decade will belong to filmmakers who dare to be authentic.