‘Sabar Bonda' continues strong festival run, wins audience award at IFFLA
Following its history-making win at the Sundance film festival earlier this year, Rohan Kanawade's Marathi-language queer drama Sabar Bonda has added another feather to its cap.
The film, about a young man returning to his roots in rural Maharashtra, recently won the Audience Choice Award for Best Feature at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) 2025. The film also received an Honorary Mention for Acting from the IFFLA jury for the performances of Bhushaan Manoj and Suraaj Suman.
Sabar Bonda follows city-dweller Anand, played by Manoj, as he embarks on a 10-day mourning ritual in his ancestral village after his father's death.
Speaking about the win at IFFLA, the producers in a joint statement said, 'From the beginning, we knew Sabar Bonda was a quiet force.This recognition is not just for our team, but for the entire ecosystem of independent cinema.'
They added: 'We're proud to see it embraced at such an iconic platform like IFFLA. An audience recognition like this one reaffirms something we've always held true: there is an audience for every story.'
Back in February, Sabar Bonda became the first Indian fiction film to win in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition at the Sundance Film Festival. The film secured a theatrical release in North America via Strand Releasing.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
2 hours ago
- Mint
‘Adolescence' overtakes ‘Stranger Things 4' to become Netflix's No. 2 most-watched English-language series ever
British limited series 'Adolescence' has become Netflix's second most-watched English-language show of all time, surpassing the popular 'Stranger Things' Season 4. As of June 1, 'Adolescence' has gathered 141.2 million views since its release on March 13, just 80 days ago. Netflix ranks its top shows based on views gathered in the first 91 days of release, and in that same timeframe, 'Stranger Things 4' had recorded 140.7 million views in 2022. Only Wednesday, the gothic teen mystery series, 'Wednesday', starring Jenna Ortega, holds a stronger position in Netflix's English-language rankings, with a remarkable 252.1 million views in its first 91 days. The success of 'Adolescence' marks a significant moment for British storytelling on the global stage, showing strong viewership across different countries. When expanding the list to include all languages, Korean sensation 'Squid Game' Season 1 remains Netflix's most-watched series ever, with 265.2 million views. Its upcoming second season has also performed strongly in early data, reaching 192.6 million views and placing just behind Wednesday and ahead of Adolescence. With still a few days left in its 91-day tracking window, 'Adolescence' may yet widen the gap between itself and Stranger Things, solidifying its spot in Netflix's streaming history. 'Adolescence' has gained praise for its emotional storytelling, sharp performances, and thought-provoking themes, resonating strongly with both teen and adult audiences. Created by Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham and directed by Philip Barantini, 'Adolescence' is a four-part mini-series that tells the powerful and emotional story of 13-year-old Jamie Miller (played by Owen Cooper), who is arrested after being accused of murdering a classmate. Each episode is filmed in a single continuous take, a creative choice that heightens the drama and makes the viewer feel as though they are right there with the characters, living each moment in real time. With its raw performances, bold direction, and unique storytelling approach, 'Adolescence' has received critical acclaim and strong word-of-mouth support, which have helped propel its global popularity.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Yugvani catalogue serves as a guide for literary research
Nagpur: 'Yugvani Sahitya Suchi', a meticulously compiled catalogue documenting the literary content published in Yugvani—the official publication of the Vidarbha Sahitya Sangh (VSS)—from 1995 to 2020, was released on Tuesday at Granth Sahwas, the cultural complex of the VSS. Renowned literary critic and former president of the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan, Dr Akshaykumar Kale, unveiled the catalogue. He emphasised the importance of bibliographic indexes in the evolution and refinement of literature. "While preparing indexes on specific subjects, unnecessary or irrelevant portions get filtered out, leading to a purification of literary content. For scholars, a good index acts as a torchbearer—shedding light on the path of exploration," he said. The event was presided over by VSS president Pradeep Date and was attended by Yugvani editor Prafulla Shiledar and Dr Swapnil Deshmukh, editor of the newly released catalogue. "An index is the key to the literary chamber one wishes to enter. It guides researchers with detailed references, including genre classification and page numbers. Creating an index requires technical expertise, familiarity with the content, and the ability to synthesise information meaningfully," Dr Kale added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Descubra ofertas de voos imperdíveis Voos | Anúncios de Pesquisa Saiba Mais Undo In his introductory remarks, Shiledar noted that Yugvani is one of the longest-running literary journals in Marathi, making this compilation especially valuable for students and researchers. Pradeep Date said such indexes allow researchers to reconnect with past literary references and expressed hope that more subject-specific catalogues would be undertaken in the future. Vrushali Deshpande conducted the proceedings and proposed the vote of thanks. Several notable literary figures were present, including VSS general secretary Vilas Manekar, vice president Rajendra Dolke, library head Vivek Aloni, Dr Tirtharaj Kapgate, poet Shyam Dhond, Sunil Shinkhede, Rajshree Banhatti, Dr Monali Pophare, and Madhuri Wadibhasme.
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Time of India
Thug Life's Kamal Haasan and Singer Chinmayi Sripaada: A Deep Dive into Cancel Culture and the Power of Resilience
's upcoming film 'Thug Life' is generating buzz for multiple reasons. Amid the excitement, a shared connection between actor and singer is making headlines — both have become focal points in ongoing discussions surrounding the persistent cancel culture in the industry. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Why has 'Thug Life' remained in the headlines since its announcement? One reason is undoubtedly Haasan's much-anticipated collaboration with ace filmmaker Mani Ratnam after 38 years — their last being the iconic Nayakan in 1987. The film's star-studded cast includes Silambarasan, Trisha Krishnan, Abhirami, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Ashok Selvan, Joju George, Nassar, Ali Fazal, Pankaj Tripathi, Rohit Saraf, and Baburaj. The trailer has taken the internet by storm, sparking numerous fan theories and speculations regarding the plot. It begins by portraying Kamal Haasan and Silambarasan as inevitable companions, before shifting in tone as the latter appears to turn against the former. One highlight from the first half of the trailer was a rare glimpse of Kamal Haasan with a clean-shaven look, reminiscent of his appearance in 'Nayakan', which gave fans goosebumps. Another moment that grabbed attention was Kamal Haasan romancing Trisha Krishnan in the trailer, reigniting conversations around the age gap between male and female leads. The 28-year age difference between Kamal and Trisha led some critics to question the trend of senior male actors being paired with much younger female co-stars. Responding to this, Mani Ratnam clarified that audiences should view them not as actors but as characters essential to the storyline. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He added that relationships with large age gaps are not uncommon in real life and cinema should reflect that reality. Kamal Haasan's Remark on Tamil and Kannada Amid all the excitement, one remark by Kamal Haasan at the Thug Life pre-release event sparked controversy among Kannada-speaking communities. While welcoming his friend, actor , he commented that "Kannada was born out of Tamil." The statement provoked backlash from certain groups in Karnataka, who demanded a public apology. The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) announced that they would support calls to ban the film in the state if Haasan did not issue an apology. Kamal Haasan, however, stood firm and told the media: 'It is a democracy. I believe in law and justice. My love for Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala is genuine. Nobody will doubt that except those with an agenda. I've faced threats before, and if I am wrong, I would apologise — if I'm not, I won't.' The South Indian Artistes Association (SIAA) later released an official statement in support of Haasan. They warned that the backlash could set a "dark precedent" and threaten artistic freedom and public discourse. 'When the legendary Dr Rajkumar was abducted, Kamal Haasan was among the first voices to call for his release. He has always regarded Dr Rajkumar as a brother and holds Dr Shiva Rajkumar in the affection of a son,' the statement added, emphasising Kamal's bond with the Rajkumar family. 'Kamal Haasan is a legendary artist who has transcended caste, religion, race, and language in his service to art. To question his integrity is to insult decades of cultural unity and artistic excellence,' the letter concluded. According to ANI, Kamal Haasan's team and production house have now approached the Karnataka High Court for permission to release the movie in the state, after the KFCC called for a ban. Ban on Vishwaroopam in 2013 Kamal Haasan faced a similar situation in 2013 with the release of Vishwaroopam, which became embroiled in controversy when several Muslim groups alleged the film misrepresented their community. The Tamil Nadu government, then led by Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, imposed a two-week ban, despite the film being released without issues in neighbouring states. This dealt a massive blow to Haasan, who had invested heavily as the writer, director, producer, and lead actor. At one point, he stood on the verge of bankruptcy. Kamal Haasan Faces Backlash Over 'Kannada Born From Tamil' Remark at Thug Life Event During a press conference in Mumbai in January 2013, Haasan expressed his anguish and hinted at the possibility of leaving the country if such setbacks continued. In Chennai, hundreds of fans gathered outside his Alwarpet residence in solidarity. Addressing them from his home, Haasan gave a heartfelt speech that resonated widely: 'What I expressed to you all is sorrow, not anger. If you feel the same, share your sorrow — not rage. Among my admirers are Muslim brothers, who are also your brothers. True heroism lies in non-violence. Let us stand united — Muslims and non-Muslims alike. If something regrettable occurs before the verdict, the blame will fall on me. Let there be no politics here. We are all children of this land, and we must protect it. As your elder brother, I urge you all — return home peacefully. I am a Tamilian, and my life belongs to cinema. As long as cinema lives, I will be here to entertain you.' Chinmayi Sripaada stealing the spotlight with 'Muththa Mazhai' Muththa Mazhai - Chinmayi Performance | Thug Life | Kamal Haasan | Mani Ratnam | STR | AR Rahman Singer Chinmayi Sripaada's rendition of the track 'Muththa Mazhai', originally sung by Dhee for Thug Life, has taken social media by storm. Netizens are collectively asking where she had been all these years and questioning who decided to sideline and ban her. Fans and music lovers are flooding platforms with support. Chinmayi's performance served as a reminder of her long-standing struggle with industry bias. In 2018, during India's #MeToo movement, she publicly accused lyricist Vairamuthu of sexual misconduct and supported other women with similar allegations. Her vocal stance against Radha Ravi — then President of the South Indian Cine, Television Artistes, and Dubbing Artistes Union (SICTADAU) — led to her removal from the union. Since then, she has faced an unofficial ban and been largely excluded from the industry. Recently, when asked how she managed to work on films like 96 and Leo despite the ban, Chinmayi addressed the matter on X (Formerly Twitter): '96 was before #MeToo broke out. Leo — I was hired despite the ban, and Radha Ravi's union tried to find out who recorded me so they could ban the recording engineer as well. Nobody has the bandwidth to fight these battles when a film is about to release. Radha Ravi sends diktats to all unions, saying a person is banned, so other unions should not hire them either. Many have faced the same. Incidentally, Anbariv were also banned by their union but were granted relief by the court. I've been fighting my case for over six years. That's how it works.' Chinmayi's unwavering resistance to silencing and exclusion continues to strike a chord with many , within the industry and beyond.
