Cannes: A bit of 'Film' in a film festival

The Cannes Film Festival, as the name suggests, is a festival of films. Going by the coverage, one may be forgiven for thinking it's a fashion gala. India, as the 'Country of Honour' this year, has been celebrating the occasion with the likes of Deepika Padukone, Hina Khan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and others in their mode de grandeur.

We could wax eloquent quite eloquently about the stunning Sabyasachi laced black creation worn by Aditi Rao Hydari. But with everyone doing a good job of covering the fashion set at Cannes, we thought a reminder that India has films being shown at the film festival on the French Riviera won't be a bad idea. Films are, apparently, a priority at Cannes.

Apart from Satyajit Ray's 1970 film, Pratidwandi (The Adversary), shown last week at the Cannes Classic section, six new Indian films will be presented.


R Madhavan's Hindi biopic of an Isro scientist accused of spying, Rocketry: The Nambi Effect; Jayaraj's Malayalam film on a lost old blind man, Niraye Thathakalulla Maram (A Tree Full of Parrots); Nikhil Mahajan's Marathi drama, Godavari; Shankar Srikumar's romcom, Alpha Beta Gamma; Achal Mishra's Maithili film, Dhuin (Mist); and Biswajit Bora's Assamese satire on India's rural education system are the Magnificent Six. Along with the fashionistas, watch them if you Cannes.