MoS, information and broadcasting, Murugan to lead Indian delegation to Cannes International Film Festival

UDHAGAMANDALAM: Union minister of state for information and broadcasting L Murugan will lead an Indian delegation to Cannes International Film Festival to be held from May 16 to 27, according to a press release by the Prees Information Bureau.

Four Indian films have made it to the official selection in Cannes Film Festival, including Kanu Behl’s ‘Agra’ and Anurag Kashyap’s ‘Kennedy’ and Aruna Raje’s ‘Firebrand’, besides a restored Manipuri film ‘Ishanhou’ - to be showcased in the ‘Classics’ section, said the release. Previously played in the festival’s 'Un Certain Regard' section in 1991, the movie’s film reels were preserved by the National Film Archive of India. The Manipur State Film Development Society got the film restored through the Film Heritage Foundation & Prasad Film Labs. Apart from these, many Indian films are slotted for being screened in Marche du Films, said the release.

Inspired by the Saraswati Yantra, the abstract representation of Saraswati, the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad with the theme, ‘Showcasing India’s Creative Economy’ to the global community has conceptualised and designed the Indian Pavilion with the colours of India’s national flag.

The wide-ranging bunch of Indian films will be screened in the segments of both Festival de Cannes & Marche du Films. A series of five interactive sessions will also be organised throughout the festival at India Pavilion.

Accompanied by filmmakers Guneet Monga of ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ fame, Manushi Chillar, Indian actress and model and winner of the Miss World 2017, Esha Gupta, acclaimed actress and Kangabam Tomba, acclaimed Manipuri actress (whose restored film-Ishanhou to be screened), Murugan will be walking in traditional ‘Veshti’ at the red carpet on Cannes inaugural day.

Also, Union minister for information and broadcasting Anurag Thakur will address the inaugural session through a video message to showcase India as a global hub for content creation at the 76th edition of Cannes's festival, added the release.