National award winning filmmaker Vinod Kapri brings his acclaimed drama. the pyre to Indian theatres. The film, which received recognition on the festival circuit, is now going to release on October 30. The film tells the story of an elderly couple who struggle with loneliness, search for companionship and deal with the pain of separation as their children move away in search of better opportunities.
Here is everything to know the pyreIts cast and the recognition it received prior to its release.
Plot and cast
Set in 2024 against the picturesque backdrop of the Kumaon Hills of Uttarakhand, the pyre A deeply moving love story of an elderly couple, Padma and Tulsi, who wait for their estranged son to return home. The film addresses complex themes such as migration from Himalayan villages and systemic abandonment, all anchored by a powerful musical score composed by Oscar-winner Michael Dana and lyrics penned by Gulzar.
The beauty of growing old together. 7 days to go! Pyrrha in theaters on October 30. https://t.co/Zfru1pW1FK
– Vinod Kapri (@vinodkapri) October 26, 2026
The lead roles are played by 80-year-old Padam Singh Kapri, uncle of director Vinod Kapri, and 70-year-old Heera Devi, a local Kumaoni folk artist. The supporting cast includes regional talent like Subhash Chandra, Shubham Chaudhary and Sadab Khan in the lead roles.
In an interview with mid dayDirector Vinop Kapri talks about making Pare with non-actors. “My team and I were nervous when we attended the film festival because the film is about a remote village in Uttarakhand and the stars are non-actors. But when the end credits rolled, the response was amazing. People were teary-eyed; some kept talking to us and others wanted to talk to Amma and Babbu. [Singh and Devi]” said the filmmaker.
Global festival recognition and honor
Before making his debut in Indian theatres, the pyre enjoyed an exceptionally successful run on the international festival circuit. The film had its grand world premiere at the 28th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival in 2024, where it won the PÖFF Audience Award for Best Film.
From there, it toured major global events including the Sao Paulo International Film Festival at the BFI, the Cambridge Film Festival and the London Indian Film Festival. the pyre It was also the opening film of the 16th Bangalore International Film Festival and won the Jury Special Mention Award in the Asian Cinema Competition section.
the pyre It has also won Best Film Audience Awards in Spain, London and Birmingham. Recently, the film won the Best Feature Film Grand Jury Award in Stuttgart, Germany.
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