Senior Community Cinema: Cactus Pears + ScreenTalk

After the death of his father, Anand (Bhushaan Manoj) accompanies his mother (Jayshri Jagtap) to their ancestral village in rural Maharashtra, to perform the final rites. Having not visited in years, he is worried about the questions that will be asked upon his arrival.

At first, there are objections to Anand's participation in the funerary rites as an unmarried man – then restrictions are placed on what he can do, eat and wear over the course of the ten days.

Not wanting to add to the pressure on his mother at this vulnerable time, Anand complies, finding relief in reconnecting with his childhood friend, Balya (Suraaj Suman), who also lives a closeted life in the village.

This gentle, painterly debut feature from Kanawade premiered at Sundance 2025, where it was awarded the Grand Jury Prize in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition.