Single Indian film at Cannes

Cannes film festival has a unique feature this year. ‘Afternoon Clouds’ directed by Payal Kapadia, a third-year student of FTII, Pune has been selected for participation in Cine Foundation. This is the first time FTII is invited to be a part of the festival.

Film maker and renowned actress, Nandita Das will also participate in an open forum and discuss the making of her new film, Manto, based on the life of acclaimed writer Saadat Hassan Manto. She will be accompanied by her actors in the film, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Rasika Duggal. Nandita Das has the distinction of being awarded the Chevalier of the Orde et des Arts Lettres by the Government of France in 2008.

Screening of a Sikkimese production ‘Paahuna’ is also in the offing for the festival. “We are dealing with issues like gender bias, the idea of currency… Money is money, but there is a currency divide, impact of older people on children, our fear of the unknown,” said the director of Pahuna, Paakhi A. Tyrewala, when asked about the film.

As usual the Indian glamour quotient will be high in Cannes which has become a regular destination for Aishwarya Rai, Deepika Padukone and Sonam Kapoor with their designers and outfits.