India and Italy embark on a cultural renaissance as Caravaggio’s long-lost Mary Magdalene in Ecstasy arrives in New Delhi, Italian cinema enchants audiences, says GYANESHWAR DAYAL

Italy is perhaps the most culturally vibrant country in Europe. While famously associated with fashion houses, pizza slices, and Ferrari races, the soul of Italy lies far deeper — in its enduring artistic legacy. The birthplace of the Renaissance, Italy has long been a beacon of art, culture and innovation. And now, it is arriving in India in an extraordinary way.

A rich artistic and democratic dialogue is unfolding between India and Italy — two nations that, despite their geographical distance, are united by a deep reverence for cultural heritage. Both civilisations boast artistic traditions spanning centuries, India with its classical dance forms, spiritual art and vibrant crafts; Italy with its Renaissance masterpieces, opera, and architectural splendour. Over time, these connections have flourished through film, design collaborations, academic exchanges and more — creating a shared space for craftsmanship, storytelling and innovation.

Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, recently visited Delhi to further strengthen these bonds. In his address, he praised the cultural ties between the two nations and highlighted the need to revitalise connections across sectors — art, culture, travel and people-to-people exchange.

This cultural resurgence was already underway. Under the dynamic leadership of Andrea Anastasio, artist and Director of the Italian Cultural Centre, a series of compelling Italy-themed events have been curated across India. Having travelled extensively in the country for over four decades, Anastasio is deeply attuned to India’s artistic pulse. His mission is clear—to offer India an authentic taste of Italy’s rich and layered cultural identity. And the events just keep coming.

At the India Habitat Centre, a film festival showcasing Italy’s cinematic heritage drew large, engaged audiences. As the festival closed, the dialogue continued through a series of thought-provoking events.

Among the most notable was Cinema & Archaeology: Heritage & Democracy — an evocative programme hosted at the Humayun’s Tomb Museum Auditorium in collaboration with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC). The event featured celebrated Italian filmmaker Milo Adami’s documentaries Appia Antica and Mirabilia Urbis, which delve into the layers of history hidden within the urban landscape.

The post-screening discussion was a highlight, featuring a panel of voices from both India and Italy. Moderated by Anastasio, the conversation tackled pressing issues head-on: the fragility of democracy, the urgency of cultural preservation, and the power of art as resistance. “Democracy is fragile and must be protected and nurtured,” Anastasio reflected. “What was discussed here at Humayun’s Tomb is relevant to anyone who values freedom.”

The festival featured a carefully curated selection of nearly 70 films, including multiple Oscar, BAFTA, Locarno, Cannes, and Berlinale award winners and nominees. In addition to contemporary world cinema, HIFF 2025 celebrated legendary filmmakers by screening restored classics from Vittorio De Sica, Satyajit Ray, Federico Fellini and more.

Filmmaker Adami stressed the need to honour the “invisible heritage” embedded in our cityscapes. Actor Giuseppe Cederna paid tribute to his father, the legendary journalist and environmentalist Antonio Cederna, underscoring that activism and art have always been intertwined. Elsewhere, Céline Stéphanie Pozzi from the Cineteca di Bologna conducted a riveting workshop on film restoration — sharing the painstaking efforts involved in preserving cinematic treasures, from Vittorio De Sica to Satyajit Ray.

Yet the crown jewel of this cultural exchange is undoubtedly the arrival of two masterpieces by Caravaggio, including the once-lost Mary Magdalene in Ecstasy, authenticated in 2014. Now being exhibited at the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art from 18 April, the works offer Indian audiences a rare opportunity to experience the searing beauty of Caravaggio’s chiaroscuro — his bold interplay of light and shadow that revolutionised European art.

Caravaggio’s genius lies in his ability to strip away idealism and illuminate the emotional rawness of his subjects. Works like The Calling of Saint Matthew and Judith Beheading Holofernes confront viewers with intense human truth. “Caravaggio is iconic not just for his time, but for all time,” said Anastasio. “In today’s chaotic world, his honesty and emotional insight are more vital than ever.” Together, these recent events mark more than a cultural moment — they represent a movement. One that reinforces how heritage, whether artistic, cinematic or archaeological, is central to sustaining democracy and truth. As India and Italy look ahead, bound by shared ideals and a love of the arts, they are building not only diplomatic bridges but emotional and intellectual ones. In celebrating each other’s culture, both countries are also reflecting on their own, reminding us all why art still matters, and always will.

India Connect

Thanks to the pioneering efforts in cinema conservation, HIFF 2025 will showcase restored versions of Satyajit Ray’s The Apu Trilogy alongside Vittorio De Sica’s films, which deeply influenced Ray’s cinematic vision.

The Italian selection also features an Indo-Italian production, Goutam Ghose’s Parikrama, starring Marco Leonardi, the teenage star of Giuseppe Tornatore’s 1988 classic Cinema Paradiso, who returns as the protagonist three decades later.

• Icíar Bollaín’s I’m Nevenka/ Soy Nevenka – The story of a pioneer of Spain’s #MeToo movement
• Saule Bliuvaite’s Toxic
• Clara Stern’s Zwei gegen die Bank/ Two Against the Bank
• Ariane Labed’s September Says
• Andrea Arnold’s Bird
• Nora Fingscheidt’s The Outrun

Award-Winning and Nominated Films

• Emilia Perez – 13 Oscar nominations, including Best Supporting Actress (Zoe Saldaña); Jury Prize and Soundtrack Award at Cannes; 4 Golden Globes; 11 BAFTA nominations
• The Story of Souleymane – Screened under Un Certain Regard at Cannes; won Jury Prize and Performance Prize

Films for freedom 2025: A Celebration of Queer Voices Across Borders

As part of a growing commitment to cultural exchange, Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, visited Delhi earlier this year. In his address, he praised the enduring cultural ties between Italy and India, emphasising the need to deepen collaboration across the arts, travel, and people-to-people engagement.

Five Films for Freedom 2025, a global celebration of LGBTQIA+ storytelling in collaboration with the British Council and BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival.

This year’s programme featured five powerful short films that resonated deeply across cultures. Dragfox, directed by Lisa Ott from the UK, followed the story of eleven-year-old Sam, who struggled with their gender identity. A visit from a cheeky fox, voiced by Ian McKellen, led them on a magical journey of self-acceptance.

From the United States, If I Make it to the Morning by Andre Shen depicted a tense evening between a Chinese teenager, her mother, and a liberal aunt in New York, challenging family dynamics and expectations.

Indonesian film NGGAK!!! offered a heart-warming yet poignant look at a young woman, Sekar, whose romantic bliss was interrupted by familial pressure. Directed by Oktania Hamdani and Winner Wijaya, it bravely tackled the conflict between tradition and queer identity.

We’ll Go Down in History from the UK, directed by Cameron Richards and Charlie Tidmas, chronicled the journey of TRUK United, a proudly trans football team, capturing their highs and lows in a world where inclusion remained a fight.

New Zealand’s Wait, Wait, Now! by Ramon Te Wake portrayed two teenage boys exploring identity in the safety of make-believe—until reality intruded.

Together, these films shared moving, creative, and unapologetically honest narratives. They reminded audiences that queer voices, wherever they emerged from, deserved to be seen, heard, and celebrated on the global stage.