Red Carpet Welcomes Filmmakers Across South Asia at Cannes 2022
Subcontinent Tales: Insights from the Indian Subregion
Get ready to indulge in some cinematic magic as this year's edition of the Cannes Film Festival rolls out the red carpet for a host of filmmakers hailing from India and its surrounding territories. Remember when Neeraj Ghaywan, an independent filmmaker, left the jury in awe with his gripping tale of corpses burners from Varanasi in 2015, earning a Special Promising Future Prize at Cannes? Well, 10 years later, Ghaywan is back on the French Riviera with his sophomore film, "Homebound"[1], competing in the same prestigious Un Certain Regard category[3] that fosters fresh filmmaking talent from around the globe.
The 78th Cannes Film Festival, set to kick off on May 13, will play host to two films from India[2], with Neeraj Ghaywan's "Homebound" starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor, accompanied by a film school production, "A Doll Made Up of Clay," from the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI), Kolkata[4].
Twist Cap for Devgn's High Octane Whiskey2022 marks a significant year for Indian cinema, building on the extraordinary success achieved in the previous year. Payal Kapadia made Indian cinema history by ending a lengthy absence from the festival's competitive section in 2024 with her sophomore feature, "All We Imagine As Light," earning the prestigious Grand Prix[6]. In addition to Kapadia's win, India earned two more awards during the festival - one shared with the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) for Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know by Chidananda S Naik and another for the third prize in the same competition by Meerut-born Mansi Maheshwari for the UK's National Film and Television School animated short film, Bunnyhood. Furthermore, Kolkata-based Anasuya Sengupta bagged the Best Actress award at the festival for her stellar performance in The Shameless directed by Bulgarian filmmaker Konstantin Bojanov[6].
Preparations for the 2022 festival are in high gear as hopes are riding high for yet another successful showing by Indian cinema, representing the breadth of filmmaking talent within the world's largest film-producing nation[7].
Clay-made Dreams Cross the SeasA Doll Made Up of Clay, a 24-minute production directed by Kokob Gebrehaweria Tesfay, internationally trained at SRFTI, is part of La Cinef, a competitive section for film schools from around the world. Tesfay's film addresses the struggles faced by African footballers struggle in India, inspired by a short documentary he created about African players[4].
Crossing geographical boundaries, Bangladeshi cinema is making strides as well. Ali, directed by Adnan Al Rajeev, became the first Bangladeshi film to be selected for the Cannes Film Festival's short film competition. Filmed in Sylhet's pristine landscapes, Ali centers around the tender relationship between a teenage boy and his mother[8].
Different Roots, Universal LanguagesDelving into Bangladeshi cinema, Adnan Al Rajeev speaks to the unique and deeply rooted visual language in the subcontinent, despite the region's cultural differences and sharing a common language[8]. He notes that the film was shot in the Nepalese dialect, in which he is fluent[8].
Journeying towards Hyderabad, Pakistan, a short film titled Karmash by Pakistani visual artist and filmmaker Aleem Bukhari embodies grassroots creativity[9]. Karmash, an experimental horror film dealing with a fictitious tribe in Pakistan, represents the third Pakistani film ever to be chosen for the Directors' Fortnight at Cannes[9].
South Asian cinema continues to captivate audiences on the global stage, showcasing stories that resonate across borders.
Faizal Khan is a freelancer.
EntertainmentEntertainment newsFilmsShare MarketStock Market QuotesIndia Newsbusiness newsour website App
- Neeraj Ghaywan, a celebrated filmmaker from India, returns to the prestigious Un Certain Regard category at Cannes 2022 with his sophomore film, "Homebound."
- The 78th Cannes Film Festival will feature two films from India, including Ghaywan's "Homebound" and a film school production, "A Doll Made Up of Clay," from the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute.
- Indian cinema is garnering worldwide attention, as seen in the success of Payal Kapadia's "All We Imagine As Light" at Cannes 2024, earning the Grand Prix.
- Crossing geographical boundaries, Bangladeshi cinema is making strides with Ali, directed by Adnan Al Rajeev, becoming the first Bangladeshi film selected for Cannes' short film competition.
- South Asian cinema continues to captivate audiences on a global scale, showcasing stories that resonate across borders.
