Sources: 
Sabar Bonda, a Marathi-language film depicting a semi-personal rural romance between two men, has made cinematic history by becoming the first Marathi film to screen at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won the prestigious Grand Jury Prize.
Marathi cinema, once a pioneer in Indian film, has faced challenges due to Bollywood's dominance in Maharashtra and across India. Despite this, the past decade has seen Marathi films quietly gaining international recognition, with diverse and acclaimed titles appearing at global festivals.
"Once pioneers of Indian cinema, Marathi films have long been hurt by Bollywood's dominating influence in the state of Maharashtra - where the language is spoken - and elsewhere in the country," the reports note.
The success of Sabar Bonda is particularly notable given the lack of institutional support for Marathi films. Producer Shefali Bhushan explained that she and three partners financed the film themselves, highlighting the financial challenges faced by regional filmmakers.
"That's partly because there's no institutional support," Bhushan said.
This breakthrough at Sundance adds to the growing global footprint of Marathi cinema, which has been steadily gaining acclaim alongside other Indian regional films. The film's recognition at Sundance underscores the evolving landscape of Indian cinema beyond Bollywood's shadow.
Sabar Bonda's achievement is a milestone for Marathi filmmakers and signals a promising future for regional Indian cinema on the world stage.
Sources: Sabar Bonda, a Marathi-language film, made history as the first from its region to screen at Sundance, winning the Grand Jury Prize. The semi-personal rural romance between two men highlights Marathi cinema's rising global presence despite challenges from Bollywood dominance and limited institutional support.
