Sabar Bonda on OTT: When and where to watch Sundance winner Marathi LGBTQ+ drama
Rohan Parashuram Kanawade's celebrated Marathi-language film Sabar Bonda, which earned top awards at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, is now streaming online following a delayed digital release.
After months of uncertainty and quiet disappointment, Sabar Bonda has finally found its digital home. The critically acclaimed Marathi-language LGBTQ+ romantic drama is now streaming on Netflix, bringing relief to audiences who had been waiting to watch the Sundance-winning film beyond theatres.
Directed by Rohan Parashuram Kanawade, Sabar Bonda premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival before opening in Indian cinemas. Despite its international recognition and festival buzz, the film struggled to secure an OTT platform, sparking conversations around the visibility and commercial viability of independent regional cinema in the streaming era.
On Friday, Netflix announced the film’s release with a post that read, “Between rituals of loss and moments of connection, a new sense of belonging emerges. Watch Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears), Sundance Film Festival award winner, now on Netflix (sic).”
Here's the post:
The prolonged delay had also taken an emotional toll on the makers. In an earlier interview with Hollywood Reporter India, Kanawade spoke candidly about the lack of response from streaming platforms despite audience interest.
“I keep getting messages from people saying they want to watch the film. I was surprised that a film which received so much recognition wasn’t getting any response from OTT platforms,” he said, adding that the uncertainty was particularly hard on the producers. “My main producer mortgaged his Mumbai house to make this film. The film gets visibility, but what about the people who put their lives and money into it?”
ABOUT SABAR BONDA
The film holds a historic place in Indian cinema as the first Marathi-language feature to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won the prestigious Grand Jury Prize. It also picked up the Audience Award for Narrative Features and Best Performance for Bhushaan Manoj at the 2025 Inside Out Film and Video Festival.
Written and directed by Kanawade in his feature debut, Sabar Bonda follows Anand (Bhushaan Manoj), a city-based man who returns to his hometown following a family death and reconnects with his childhood friend Balya (Suraaj Suman). The film delicately explores grief, intimacy, and queer identity within a rural setting. Jayshri Jagtap also features in a key role.
Produced by Neeraj Churi, Mohamed Khaki, Kaushik Ray, Hareesh Reddypalli, Naren Chandavarkar and Siddharth Meer, the film’s eventual arrival on Netflix underscores both the persistence of its makers and the evolving space for regional, independent voices on global streaming platforms.
After months of uncertainty and quiet disappointment, Sabar Bonda has finally found its digital home. The critically acclaimed Marathi-language LGBTQ+ romantic drama is now streaming on Netflix, bringing relief to audiences who had been waiting to watch the Sundance-winning film beyond theatres.
Directed by Rohan Parashuram Kanawade, Sabar Bonda premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival before opening in Indian cinemas. Despite its international recognition and festival buzz, the film struggled to secure an OTT platform, sparking conversations around the visibility and commercial viability of independent regional cinema in the streaming era.
On Friday, Netflix announced the film’s release with a post that read, “Between rituals of loss and moments of connection, a new sense of belonging emerges. Watch Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears), Sundance Film Festival award winner, now on Netflix (sic).”
Here's the post:
The prolonged delay had also taken an emotional toll on the makers. In an earlier interview with Hollywood Reporter India, Kanawade spoke candidly about the lack of response from streaming platforms despite audience interest.
“I keep getting messages from people saying they want to watch the film. I was surprised that a film which received so much recognition wasn’t getting any response from OTT platforms,” he said, adding that the uncertainty was particularly hard on the producers. “My main producer mortgaged his Mumbai house to make this film. The film gets visibility, but what about the people who put their lives and money into it?”
ABOUT SABAR BONDA
The film holds a historic place in Indian cinema as the first Marathi-language feature to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won the prestigious Grand Jury Prize. It also picked up the Audience Award for Narrative Features and Best Performance for Bhushaan Manoj at the 2025 Inside Out Film and Video Festival.
Written and directed by Kanawade in his feature debut, Sabar Bonda follows Anand (Bhushaan Manoj), a city-based man who returns to his hometown following a family death and reconnects with his childhood friend Balya (Suraaj Suman). The film delicately explores grief, intimacy, and queer identity within a rural setting. Jayshri Jagtap also features in a key role.
Produced by Neeraj Churi, Mohamed Khaki, Kaushik Ray, Hareesh Reddypalli, Naren Chandavarkar and Siddharth Meer, the film’s eventual arrival on Netflix underscores both the persistence of its makers and the evolving space for regional, independent voices on global streaming platforms.