Set against the rugged landscapes of western India, Cactus Pears follows Anand, a thirty-something city dweller compelled to spend a ten-day mourning period for his father. In this time of loss, he forms a tender bond with a local farmer struggling with the weight of remaining unmarried. As Anand’s mourning ends and he must return to city life, he faces a pivotal decision about the fragile relationship born under duress.

• Cactus Pears* marks the debut feature of Rohan Parashuram Kanawade, a self-made filmmaker who grew up in a Mumbai slum, the son of a chauffeur father and homemaker mother. After transitioning from interior design to cinema, Kanawade has established a strong voice through internationally screened short films including U Ushacha (U for Usha), Khidkee (Window), Sundar (Beautiful), and Ektya Bhinti (Lonely Walls).

Developed at the Venice Biennale College Cinema (2022–2023) and showcased at Film Bazaar, Venice Gap Financing Market, and Goes to Cannes, Cactus Pears is a striking debut exploring grief, intimacy, and belonging.