78th Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes Film Festival is a prestigious event that previews films of all genres – from independent productions to big-budget blockbusters. Actors, filmmakers and industry professionals from all over the world will head to Cannes, France, every May to showcase their cinematic works. And India is no exception.
Indian director’s Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound, produced by Dharma Productions, has been selected for the “Un Certain Regard” section, which showcases films with unusual styles and non-traditional stories.
The dramatic, poignant film about two childhood friends from a small North Indian village chasing a police job stars Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa.
Another Indian film, Tanvi The Great, directed by Bollywood veteran Anupam Kher, will premiere at the Cannes Film Market. It took him four years to make the film about a girl who belongs to an army family and explores the extraordinaries of life.
As part of Cannes Classics, the 1970 Bengali film Aranyer Din Ratri returns to the silver screen – this time in ultra high-definition (4K). The film, which translates to Days and Nights in the Forest, tells the tale of four care-free city men who venture into the forests of Palmau, soon to undergo the journey of self-discovery and humility.
Director Payal Kapadia also returns to Cannes – this time as a jury member. Her soulful film All We Imagine As Light, depicting the power of sisterhood between two nurses in the bustling city of Mumbai, won the Grand Prix award last year.
The 78th edition of the film festival will be held from May 13 to 24.
Six Days in Bombay
Author Alka Joshi, an Indian American novelist, has penned a novel that delves into the topics of identity and self-discovery.
Six Days in Bombay follows the journey of an Anglo-Indian nurse who embarks on a journey from her home in Mumbai, through Prague, Florence, Paris and London, to solve a looming mystery and prove her innocence after a famous painter dies under her care.
The author was born in Rajasthan and moved to the United States when she turned nine. She is living proof that it is never too late to chase your passion. At 52, she paused her marketing business to pursue an MFA programme in creative writing.
Her most notable work is The Henna Artist, a fictional story of a young teenager who escapes an abusive marriage and has to navigate a rural village in Jaipur all alone. The novel received a 4.7 out of 5 rating on Amazon, where readers praised the author’s immersive storytelling.
