tiny beacons of hope

Your New Favorite Child Actor Is Sunny Pawar

Sunny Pawar and Dev Patel Photo: Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for TWC - Dimension

As awards season rushes towards us like the (Manchester by the) Sea, its red-carpet Arrival line may tend toward the more serious 20th Century Women of La La Land. Okay, you get it. The point is this: In a year like the one we’ve had, allow us to speak for everyone when we say we may need a small, cute, bright avatar upon which to project our dreams and visions for the future more than ever (see also: Tremblay, Jacob). Which is why we’re thankful Vanity Fair locked onto the young cub of Oscar-hopeful film Lion, one Sunny Pawar. Not only is Sunny fully inhabiting his moniker as he makes his way around the U.S.A., he’s also reminding us of the power of childlike innocence, unbridled enthusiasm, and the desire to be swept up into the arms of co-star Dev Patel (metaphorically). See Pawar in Lion, then prepare your “aww” face for an awards season chock-full of this adorable little dude wearing many tiny suits.