Vinod Kapri's 'Pyre' to hit cinemas on October 23 with debutant elderly leads

Vinod Kapri's film 'Pyre' will arrive in cinemas across India on October 23, 2026. The National Award-winning director's latest project centres on an elderly couple living in a remote village in the Kumaon region of the Himalayas.

The film's leads, 80-year-old Padam Singh Kapri and 70-year-old Heera Devi, are making their acting debuts. Both hail from Uttarakhand and had never faced a camera before. Padam Singh Kapri, a retired Army man, plays a character of the same name, while Heera Devi, a homemaker, widow and former dancer, portrays Tulsi.

'Pyre' follows the couple's life as it revolves around their home, their memories and each other. Their children have moved away in search of better opportunities, leaving the parents waiting for their return. The narrative also examines how migration shapes families, especially the bond between parents and children who settle far from their hometowns.

Kapri said the real-life experiences of the two leads lent the story an authenticity that trained performers could not have replicated. He described the film as a story about love — between two people who have shared a lifetime, and between parents and their children — and said he wanted to tell it through individuals who had lived that life themselves.

'Pyre' premiered at the 28th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, where it received the PÖFF Best Film Audience Award. It has since been shown at a string of international festivals, including the São Paulo International Film Festival, the Cambridge Film Festival, the Bath Film Festival, the Fajr International Film Festival and the International Film Festival of Kerala.

The makers say the film has collected 18 international awards, among them 15 Best Film honours. It has also earned Best Director recognition in Serbia and Boston, along with awards for its music, cinematography and sound.

Produced by Vinod Kapri, Suresh Joshi and Arindra Rai Chaudhuri under Bhagirathi Films and Mashakbeen Studios, 'Pyre' will be distributed in Indian cinemas by Cinépolis. The music is composed by Mychael Danna, whose credits include 'Life of Pi', 'Monsoon Wedding', 'Little Miss Sunshine' and 'Moneyball', with lyrics by Gulzar. The film was shot entirely in Uttarakhand, set against the Himalayan landscape.