The press conference for the Indian feature “Pyre,” written and directed by Vinod Kapri, was held on Saturday, 29 November, at Honar Shahr Aftab Cineplex in Shiraz, with production executive Divyanshu Rathour in attendance. Screening in the International Competition section of the 43rd Fajr International Film Festival, the film is set in the solitude of the Himalayan mountains and follows Padam and Tulsi, an elderly couple living in isolation. Their quiet and fragile existence is disrupted when a letter from their long-absent son rekindles a sense of hope, while also exposing the emotional cost of rural depopulation and generational separation.
Speaking about the central theme of the film, Divyanshu Rathour explained that “Pyre” reflects a global social concern. “This film points to young people who leave villages in search of employment, which ultimately leads to elderly people being left alone,” he said. “This is a very serious and fundamental issue all over the world, and unfortunately it continues to grow every day.” He added that rural life is increasingly difficult worldwide, making the film’s subject universally relatable. “Life in villages is challenging everywhere, and for this reason audiences across different countries can connect with this story,” Rathour noted.
Rathour also addressed the film’s casting choices, emphasizing the director’s distinct approach to realism. “Vinod Kapri has his own cinematic style, which is very different from the Bollywood style that is widely known around the world,” he said. He explained that the film was shot in Kapri’s native village and that non-professional actors were deliberately chosen to enhance authenticity. “To make the atmosphere of the film more realistic, he used non-actors who actually live in that village,” Rathour stated.
Discussing the origin of the film’s idea, Rathour recalled a moment that left a lasting impression on the director. “In 2019, Vinod Kapri was walking in northern India, in mountainous areas near the Himalayas, when he encountered an elderly couple who spoke about the hardships of their lives,” he said. “That encounter stayed with him and gradually shaped the idea of the film.” Rathour noted that mainstream Bollywood cinema rarely focuses on such subjects, adding, “Kapri has no interest in commercial cinema and prefers to continue filmmaking independently.”
Rathour also shared his perspective on Iranian cinema, expressing admiration for its stylistic and thematic qualities. “The social realism present in Iranian cinema has always been astonishing to me,” he said. “I am very interested in Iranian filmmaking in general, and I believe that the narrative style and character development in Iranian films are highly realistic.”
When asked about filmmakers who inspired his own professional journey, Rathour pointed to a landmark Iranian film. “‘Children of Heaven,’ directed by Majid Majidi, was one of the works that inspired me to pursue filmmaking,” he said.
Taking place in Shiraz from November 26 to December 3, 2025, the 43rd Fajr International Film Festival continues to serve as an international platform, uniting filmmakers, critics, and cinema enthusiasts through a wide-ranging program of film screenings, panels, and cultural activities.
