PEAKLIFE

By Abhya Adlakha

As the curtains rise on the 77th Cannes Film Festival, the world’s cinematic spotlight once again turns to the enchanting shores of France. The prestigious festival will showcase a wide range of films from various genres and countries, including feature films, documentaries, and short films.

From Kiara Advani to Aditi Rao Hyadri, the festival will also see a host of Indian celebrities and online influencers walking the red carpet. However, what stands out most at this year’s edition of the festival is the unprecedented number of Indian films premiering at this event.

As Indian celebrities and influencers get ready to grace the red carpet, their presence not only reflects the expanding footprint of Indian culture but also signals a moment of acclaim for Indian cinema on the world stage. From Payal Kapaadia’s ‘All We Imagine As Light’ to the timeless resonance of the restored classic ‘Manthan’ by Shyam Benegal, here are eight Indian movies that will be screened at the 77th Cannes Film Festival.

‘All We Imagine As Light’ by Payal Kapadia

Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light etched its name in history by becoming the first Indian film in 30 years to contend for the esteemed Palme d’Or trophy at the Cannes Film Festival.
The film follows a nurse in Mumbai whose routine is disrupted after she receives an unexpected gift from her estranged husband. Meanwhile, her younger roommate tries in vain to find a spot in the city to be intimate with her boyfriend. A trip to a beach town allows them to fulfill their desires.

‘Santosh’ by Sandhya Suri

British-Indian filmmaker Sandhya Suri’s film has been selected for the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes—a section that celebrates films with unusual styles and untraditional stories. The movie tells the story of a young widow Santosh, portrayed by Shahana Goswami, who inherits her husband’s role as a police constable in the rural badlands of Northern India. As a lower caste girl is found raped and murdered, Santosh gets entangled in the investigation.

‘The Shameless’ by Konstantin Bojanov

Another entry in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes, the film by Bulgarian director Konstantin Bojanov was shot in India and consists of an Indian cast. The story follows a girl, Renuka, who escapes from a Delhi brothel after stabbing a policeman to death. After she takes refuge in a community of sex workers, she meets Devika—a young girl condemned to a life of prostitution. Their bond slowly develops into a forbidden romance and together they embark on a journey to escape the law.

‘Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know’ by Chidananda Naik

This short film was selected for the prestigious La Cinef Competition at the Cannes festival. The 16-minute story tells the story of a village thrown into chaos after an elderly woman steals the village rooster and throws the community in disarray. To bring the rooster back, a prophecy is invoked and the old lady’s family is sent into exile.

‘Manthan’ by Shyam Benegal

Produced by 50,000 farmers who contributed Rs. 2 each towards making the film, Manthan is a powerful film about the changes that occur in a village after a veterinary surgeon from the city arrives to start a milk cooperative movement. Starring Smita Patil, Naseeruddin Shah, and other renowned Indian actors, the movie was inspired by the milk cooperative movement led by Verghese Kurien.

‘Bunnyhood’ by Mansi Maheshwari

Animation director Mansi Maheshwari gained her spot in the La Cinef category with her film Bunnyhood, which she made as a graduation project at the National Film and Television School (NFTS) in London, UK.

‘Sister Midnight’ by Karan Kandhari

The film, directed by Karan Kandhari and starring Radhika Apte, is the only Indian film selected to premier at the Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes. The movie follows a newlywed who tries to navigate the challenges of an arranged married life in a Mumbai slum.

‘In Retreat’ by Maisam Ali

Maisam Ali, a Ladakh native born in Iran, has become the first Indian director to premier a film under the ACID (Association for the Distribution of Independent Cinema) section at Cannes.

The film follows a man after he returns to his hometown Ladakh after many years and has to grapple with his feelings of belonging and not belonging to a place that was once his home.