At the 22nd Third Eye Asian Film Festival, Sohla – Celebration Under the Grey Sky created a rare cinematic moment defined by stillness and emotional depth. The film gently unfolds the story of a young boy forced into adulthood by personal loss. Without loud drama, Sohla captures grief, memory, and resilience through subtle performances and thoughtful storytelling. Audiences, particularly older viewers, connected deeply with its realism and cultural sensitivity. Directed by debut filmmaker Saaikat Bagban, the Marathi film proves that powerful cinema does not need spectacle—only honesty and emotional truth.
At the 22nd Third Eye Asian Film Festival, Sohla – Celebration Under the Grey Sky emerged as a quiet yet powerful presence, leaving an impression that lingered far beyond the screening. Rather than demanding attention, the Marathi film invited the audience into stillness—creating a deeply immersive and emotional experience.
As the film unfolded, the atmosphere inside the theatre subtly transformed. Conversations faded, movements stilled, and time seemed to slow. Viewers leaned forward, absorbed not just in the story on screen, but in the emotions unfolding within themselves. Sohla did not feel like a performance—it felt lived.
The emotional impact was particularly visible among older members of the audience. For many, the film resonated as a mirror of their own memories. Its restrained portrayal of grief, its silences, and its tenderness embedded in everyday gestures stirred deeply personal recollections. Some wiped away tears quietly, while others sat motionless, holding on to emotions long tucked away.
When the credits rolled, applause arrived slowly—not from hesitation, but from reflection. The silence that followed carried weight, the kind that comes after encountering something deeply honest. Several viewers, especially elderly attendees, remained seated long after the screening ended, visibly moved.
Outside the theatre, conversations unfolded in hushed tones. The film sparked personal stories—of parents, partners, loss, and lives shaped under similar grey skies. Sohla became a bridge, connecting strangers through shared vulnerability and memory.
The response around the festival was understated yet unmistakable. Rather than loud praise, the film was spoken of with care. “You must watch it,” many said, “but be prepared to feel.” At a festival celebrated for reflective and meaningful cinema, Sohla found its natural home.
About the Film
Title: Sohla
English Title: Celebration Under the Grey Sky
Language: Marathi (with English subtitles)
Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes 50 seconds
Year of Completion: November 2025
Cast:
Pravin Dalimkar, Devdatta Prashant Gone, Varsha Sunil Malwadkar, Vaishnavi Sanjay Godke, Alessandra Tarawhelan Marediz
Producer: Carryon Films
Producers: Sachin Srivastav & Kavita Bagban
Director & Writer: Saaikat Bagban (Debut Feature)
Tagline:
Between borrowed dreams and sudden grief, a boy discovers the weight of becoming a man.
Logline:
A flamboyant young boy inspired by Bollywood dreams of stealing the spotlight at his village’s coming-of-age ceremony, Sohla—until a family tragedy forces him to grow up too soon and confront what becoming a man truly means.
Short Synopsis:
After his father’s tragic downfall, young Pashya must set aside his childhood dreams to support his grieving family. As the village’s sacred Sohla ceremony approaches—a tradition marking the passage into manhood—he must decide whether to abandon it or reclaim it in his father’s memory. Sohla is a tender coming-of-age story about grief, resilience, and quiet transformation.
Director’s Statement:
“Sohla is a reflection of what I have seen and felt growing up. It is about the moment when a boy is forced to become a man—not by choice, but by circumstance. Through this film, I wanted to share that quiet struggle of loss, responsibility, and resilience.”
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