Starring two elderly first-time actors from Uttarakhand, the film has already won 18 international awards. The trailer of National Award-winning fimmaker Vinod Kapri ’s Pyre is out. It tells the story of an elderly couple who continue to wait for their children, even as life in their Himalayan village grows quieter with each passing day. The trailer offers a glimpse into a world shaped by love, ageing and the loneliness that comes when children move away.
Pyre features Padam Singh Kapri, 80, and Heera Devi, 70, neither of whom had acted before the film. Filmed entirely in the mountains of Uttarakhand, Pyre has earned recognition at international festivals, picking up 18 awards, including 15 Best Film honours. Before its nationwide theatrical release, the makers will take Pyre to Berinag, Bageshwar and Srinagar Garhwal through special screenings scheduled from October 14 to 17. It will release in theatres across India on October 30 in Hindi and Malayalam.
The film has also won Best Director awards in Serbia and Boston, along with honours for its music, cinematography and sound. Both are residents of Uttarakhand, and their connection to the region adds a personal touch to the story. Padam Singh, a retired Army serviceman, plays a character named after himself, while Heera Devi takes on the role of Tulsi. Their performances bring the film closer to the lives of the people and communities it portrays. These include awards at festivals and events in Washington, D.C., Chicago, Canada, Spain, Boston, Stuttgart, London and Birmingham. The screenings will be organised with Picture Time, a mobile theatre initiative that brings cinema to places with limited or no access to permanent theatres. The idea is to ensure that audiences in the region where the film was made also get an opportunity to watch it on the big screen. The film is produced by Vinod Kapri, Suresh Joshi and Arindra Rai Chaudhuri under Bhagirathi Films and Mashakbeen Studios.
Talking about the film finally reaching Indian audiences, producer-director Vinod Kapri said, “I’m delighted that Pyre will finally reach audiences across India in cinemas, where its emotions and the beauty of the Himalayas can be experienced on the big screen. The film has received so much warmth and appreciation on its international journey, and now I’m looking forward to sharing this deeply personal story with audiences back home and hoping it touches their hearts just as much,” said Vinod.
