Mumbai, May 21: It was a proud and emotional moment for Indian cinema as Satyajit Ray's 1970 classic Aranyer Din Ratri was showcased in its newly restored version as part of the Cannes Classics segment at the Cannes Film Festival. The screening was graced by cast members Sharmila Tagore and Simi Garewal, alongside Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, head of the Film Heritage Foundation.
Sharmila Tagore’s daughter, Saba Ali Khan, who accompanied the cast to the prestigious event, shared several pictures and videos capturing the unforgettable evening. After the film's premiere, the audience gave a resounding standing ovation. Sharmila, clearly moved by the gesture, was guided to the center of the projection stage and beamed with joy as she received the heartfelt applause.
One of the videos captured Sharmila walking gracefully toward the stage as the audience stood and applauded. Sharing the moment, Saba captioned it: “A little more.... of moments. Standing ovation. A beautiful celebration of life. Team that made it all possible. Congratulations!”
In another image, Sharmila was seen speaking about the film with Simi Garewal by her side. One special photo also featured Saba and Sharmila posing with acclaimed filmmaker Wes Anderson, who stood between them.
A devoted admirer of Ray's work, Wes Anderson introduced the film ahead of its screening. Aranyer Din Ratri was restored and presented by The Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project at L’Immagine Ritrovata, in collaboration with the Film Heritage Foundation, Janus Films, and the Criterion Collection. The restoration was made possible with support from the Golden Globe Foundation.
