According to filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, India did not have a significant presence at the Cannes Film Festival. He emphasized that the success of independent filmmakers at the prestigious European event is their own achievement, as the government does not support this kind of award-winning cinema.
India made history by winning three awards at the 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival recently. Payal Kapadia became the first Indian director to win the Grand Prix for her film “All We Imagine As Light,” Anasuya Sengupta was awarded Best Actress in the Un Certain Regard section for “The Shameless,” and FTII student Chidananda S. Naik received the Best Short Film award at the La Cinef section for “Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know.”
Kashyap expressed his disappointment, stating that none of these films were Indian productions, and India has ceased to support this kind of cinema. He highlighted that the film “All We Imagine as Light,” which was the first Indian entry in the main competition at Cannes in 30 years, received funding from a French company.
While there were films at Cannes with Indian themes or talent involved, most of them were co-productions with other countries. Kashyap criticized the lack of support from India for these films, which often struggle to secure theatrical releases.
Kashyap also criticized the excessive focus on influencers at Cannes, particularly on the red carpet. He pointed out the lack of recognition for past Indian successes at the festival and called for a better support system for independent filmmakers in India.
Regarding the success of smaller films in India, Kashyap noted the challenges they face in marketing and reaching audiences compared to big-budget blockbusters. He praised the Southern film industry for its approach to marketing and ticket pricing, which benefits both large and small films.
Directed by Aditya Datt, the web series “Bad Cop” starring Gulshan Devaiah is set to premiere on Disney Hotstar on June 21.
