Veteran actor Anupam Kher has expressed his admiration for the Indian talents who have made the country proud at the Cannes Film Festival 2024. Among the notable achievements, India’s film “All We Imagine As Light” won the prestigious Grand Prix, a significant accomplishment for Indian cinema.
Anupam Kher, in an interview with News18 Showsha, highlighted the growing recognition of content-driven films. He pointed out how previously unknown individuals are now receiving significant honors. One example he gave was that of Delhi influencer Nancy Tyagi, who made a remarkable red carpet-debut at Cannes 2024.
The Impact of Content
Anupam emphasized the importance of good content in today’s film industry. He mentioned how films like Kiran Rao’s “Laapata Ladies” and Diljit Dosanjh’s “Chamkila” have been praised for their storytelling and performances. He said, “Content is very important nowadays. It always was, but now the audience is different. Look at what happened at Cannes – we have two unknown people (filmmaker Payal Kapadia and actor Anasuya Sengupta) getting the highest honors. It’s phenomenal.”
Anupam Kher On Creativity on the Red Carpet
Anupam also spoke about Nancy Tyagi’s unique achievement at Cannes. He admired how she walked the red carpet in a dress she stitched herself. “A Delhi girl walked on the red carpet stitching her own dress. The world is open to creativity – it always was, but now India is open to creativity,” he noted. He stressed that impactful content touches the heart and that audiences today are sophisticated and open to diverse experiences.
End of Fakeness in Cinema
Reflecting on the changing dynamics of the film industry, Anupam said, “You cannot dwarf the audience by making them feel smaller. They’re open to malls, they’re open to modern India, and big cinema – they are used to everything. You can’t now say, ‘Look, we are taking you to Switzerland’. It’s not a big deal for them anymore. But if a small film has good content, it will succeed, just like a big one. I think it’s the end of fakeness.”
Indian Achievements at Cannes 2024: Payal Kapadia’s Historic Win
Filmmaker Payal Kapadia was honored at the closing ceremony of the 77th Cannes Film Festival with the Grand Prix for “All We Imagine As Light.” This award, the second-highest prize at the festival, marked a historic moment for Indian cinema.
Anasuya Sengupta’s Acting Award
In another historic achievement, Anasuya Sengupta won the Best Actress award for her role in Bulgarian director Konstantin Bojanov’s “The Shameless.” She became the first Indian actor to receive an acting award at Cannes, further showcasing the global recognition of Indian talent.
Other Notable Mentions
Two Indian films were also contenders in the Un Certain Regard section: Sandhya Suri’s cop drama “Santosh” starring Shahana Goswami, and “The Shameless.” Additionally, the Kannada short film “Sunflowers Were The First Ones To Know,” directed by FTII student Chidananda S Naik, won the La Cinef Award for Best Short Film.
Anupam Kher’s praise highlights the remarkable achievements of Indian talents at Cannes 2024. From filmmakers and actors to influencers, the global stage is now recognizing the creativity and content-driven narratives emerging from India. As these artists continue to make waves internationally, it’s clear that the future of Indian cinema is bright and promising.
