Pyre Continues Winning Streak; Bags Three More Awards In Spain

Indian film Pyre continued its remarkable international run by clinching three awards at the 24th Imagine India International Film Festival in Spain.

• Manas Bhattacharya won Best Cinematography
• Vinod Kapri received the Best Screenplay Award
• The film earned a Special Mention for Best Film

The film had been nominated in six categories at the festival, reaffirming its growing acclaim on the global stage.

Winning Spree Across Europe

Pyre has been on a record-breaking streak in 2025. In July, the film swept five major Best Film awards within a single week:

• Best Film Audience Award and Best Film Jury Special Mention at the 22nd Asian Summer Film Festival in Spain, where it also had its Spanish premiere
• Best Film Audience Award at both the London and Birmingham Indian Film Festivals, marking its UK premiere
• Best Feature Film Grand Jury Award (German Star of India) at the 22nd Indian Film Festival of Stuttgart, where it had its German premiere

The film tells the story of Padam and Tulsi, an ageing couple in a remote Himalayan village left desolate by migration. As they worry about who will perform their last rites, an unexpected letter from their estranged son after 30 years rekindles hope and meaning in their lives.

Featuring non-professional actors from the Himalayas, including 80-year-old Padam Singh and 70-year-old Heera Devi, the film delivers raw and authentic performances that bring depth to Kapri’s portrayal of rural displacement and enduring love.

Stellar Global Collaboration

Pyre boasts a strong international creative team:

• Academy Award-winning composer Mychael Danna collaborated with Amritha Vaz on the score
• German editor Patricia Rommel co-edited with Subhajit Singha
• Legendary lyricist Gulzar wrote the songs
• The film was produced by Vinod Kapri and Sakshi Joshi

Legendary filmmaker Sheila Nevins, who has won 26 Oscars and 32 Emmy Awards, praised Pyre as ‘an unusual, incredibly beautiful film’.

Japanese auteur Sion Sono also described it as ‘one of the most beautiful films’.

Pyre premiered at the 28th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival in November 2024, where it was the only Indian entry in the Official Competition and won the Audience Choice Award.

It then served as the Opening Film at the 16th Bengaluru International Film Festival. The film won the Jury Special Mention Award in the Asian Cinema Competition.

The film has since premiered across the globe:

• Belgian Premiere at the 12th MOOOV Film Festival
• North American Premiere at the 25th New York Indian Film Festival, with nominations for Best Actor and Best Actress for its non-professional leads
• Australian Premiere at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne in August 2025

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