Cinema VinesVinod Kapri’s latest feature, Pyre, is slated to hit Indian cinemas on 23 October 2026. The 80‑year‑old director, who has earned a National Award for his work, has crafted a quiet, intimate drama set in the remote Kumaon region of the Himalayas. The story follows an ageing couple who spend their days in the company of each other and the memories of their home, while they wait for their children, who have migrated elsewhere in search of better opportunities.
The film is produced by Kapri alongside Suresh Joshi and Arindra Rai Chaudhuri under Bhagirathi Films and Mashakbeen Studios. It stars Padam Singh Kapri, aged 80, and Heera Devi, aged 70, both of whom are first‑time actors from Uttarakhand and had never appeared on camera before this project. Singh, a retired army officer, plays a character named Padam Singh, while Devi, a widow, homemaker and former dancer, portrays Tulsi. Their real‑life experiences and natural chemistry lend the film a level of authenticity that the director says is impossible to replicate with conventional actors.
Kapri has described Pyre as a film about love—between a couple who have shared a lifetime together, and between parents and their children. In an interview, he remarked, “Finding Padam Singh ji and Heera Devi ji was extraordinary. Their relationship, silences and emotions brought a truth to the screen that conventional actors could never have recreated.” The narrative explores the evolving dynamics of a family split by migration, set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Himalayas.
Before its Indian release, the film embarked on an international festival circuit. It opened at the 28th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, where it took home the PÖFF Best Film Audience Award. Subsequent screenings at the 49th São Paulo International Film Festival, 44th Cambridge Film Festival, 35th Bath Film Festival, 43rd Fajr International Film Festival and the 30th International Film Festival of Kerala earned Pyre 18 awards worldwide, including 15 Best Film accolades in cities such as Washington, D.C., Chicago, Canada, Spain, Boston, Stuttgart, London and Birmingham. The director also received Best Director honours in Serbia and Boston, with the film garnering further recognition for its music, cinematography and sound.
Musically, the film benefits from the talents of acclaimed composer Mychael Danna, known for his work on Little Miss Sunshine, Monsoon Wedding, Life of Pi and Moneyball. The score is complemented by lyrics from legendary poet and lyricist Gulzar. The entire production was shot in the mountains of Uttarakhand, blending the grandeur of the Himalayas with a deeply personal portrait of a family in transition. Pyre will be distributed theatrically by Cinépolis, which has previously handled releases such as Hanuman Ansh.
