There was a time when our films picked up top honours at Cannes and our film personalities made it to its prestigious jury. Now, the growing business of Indian films, small and big, in the film market section and their attendant promotions have meant that our stars are also joining our filmmakers to make a statement. So it is that the red carpet is ablaze this season, too, with headlining acts by Bollywood’s leading ladies. Style on point, ever ready with quotes, here’s a look at how some of them carried themselves
Nationalism is very spiritual, says Kangana
Actress Kangana Ranaut, who chose to flaunt a traditional Kanjeevaram sari styled with a corset and gloves at the 72nd Cannes Film Festival, said she considers nationalism spiritual in nature.
At the India Pavilion of the ongoing gala, Kangana spoke about her journey, the changes in the industry, the need to take care of technicians and her idea of nationalism among other things.
She said, “I don’t know when and how nationalism and being liberal became two different things because nationalism is something very spiritual in nature. When you identify with another being, when you fall in love with someone, it is such an exhilarating feeling. You include them and you feel one with them. And if you identify with a set of people, that makes your family, right? And then you start to identify with your village, your caste people. It expands your experience of inclusiveness. So, nationalism is nothing but identifying with a whole lot of people who have vowed to be in the same constitution or have the same passport or vow to protect the same land. It’s your extended family.”
Kangana delved upon some changes that need to be brought about in the way a film set functions. She said, “Our technicians are hugely devalued. There is no insurance for people who do stunts. Human life, the way it is treated on sets, it’s so sad. Some people have no value of time. Shifts of eight hours run to 12 hours and some people get so consumed by the so-called fashion and the lack of planning, that things roll into lunch breaks, snack breaks and a lot of delay. Actors, directors go into their vans, eat on time, they take care of their diet, but the way a unit is treated is definitely something we must look at.”
She said food is another concern. “There is a difference between the food they get. There’s unit 1, 2, 3... these are petty things. Sometimes the films cost crores. Sometimes they have a huge budget, but because you are used to treat human life in such a crass way, you continue with that tradition without realising you have the budget for everything, but you just don’t want to do it. There should be strict rules for that and more for human rights,” she asserted.
On the changes she has seen in the industry for actresses since the time she stepped in, Kangana said, “I see a lot of change. When I started out, after my debut in a very strong role, I was jobless for a considerable time because I was not fitting into the roles that were popular during those days... the singing and dancing, and that was the absolute. But now I see a lot of people and actresses who come and find themselves in some category. There are a lot of categories now. Some can do niche cinema if you don’t know dancing. Like I didn’t know dancing and it was such a big deal. I can fight, I can do everything, but I am not good with dancing. “Today I see so many actresses who can have a successful career if they don’t know dancing. Or if you are a dancer, you can continue doing that, but I feel that since the last year or two, a lot of women have made a comeback, be it Neena Gupta or Madhuri Dixit without being frowned upon for age. So, there are not mainstream things that are happening, but at least there are some examples to begin with, and it’s not a bad thing,” she added.
On the second day, the actress adorned an all-black pantsuit, which was followed by a Michael Cinco white and mauve gown with jewellery by Chopard.
Deepika goes dramatic
Actress Deepika Padukone went as dramatic as it could get for her red carpet appearance. Draped in an elegant monochromatic, Peter Dundas gown and a high hairdo, the actress set the red carpet on fire. With a gigantic bow, the gown had a front slit, a plunging neckline and exaggerated sleeves. Her eye make-up exuded drama with dark reverse winged eyeliner and a sleek and neat high ponytail.
She looked fresh and wore her confidence on her sleeve as her face showed no sign of fatigue even though she got ready amid a tight schedule.
Well, on the second day, the global audience applauded at her four disparate looks, each one alluring than the other. The first was a blue and white-striped pantsuit, paired with bright orange court shoes, followed by a black dress with neon green bralette. In her third ensemble, she wore a translucent cream shirt with high waist pants, which was followed by a floral gown with a stylised neck.
Priyanka shimmers in black
For her debut, actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas looked fiery in a bold black and red embellished ensemble, a custom creation by Roberto Cavalli.
She carried the strapless gown with a thigh-high slit with panache. The former Miss World took to the red carpet with a smile on her face and folded her hands to gesture Namaste. Her accessories were limited to statement earrings, while her hair was left simple in loose curls.
Earlier, the actress was seen in a white ensemble inspired by what late Lady Diana once wore to the festival.
Chandivali to Cannes: Hina a ‘proud outsider’
Actress Hina Khan says she is a “proud outsider” who will continue working hard to make her own place, after a scribe commented on her appearance at the film festival.
“Cannes has suddenly become Chandivali Studios kya?” a magazine editor posted on an Instagram story, which drew ire from a host of TV fraternity members who supported Hina and her journey whole-heartedly.
“I was persistent, I am constant and I will be efficient again and again. Don’t know where I belong, don’t know if I have to, as the place doesn’t define me. Because as always I will work hard and I will make my own place. My promise, a proud outsider from my Chandivali Studios,” Hina wrote on social media.
The Kasautti Zindagii Kay actress made a sparkling debut in a gown by Lebanese designer Ziad Nakad.
“Cannes 2019. The picture is just not ‘a’ picture. God’s sign. Shining star,” she wrote alongside one of her images from the event. At the India Pavilion of the fest, Hina will also be a speaker and will launch the first look of her film Lines, set in the backdrop of the Kargil War.
Many of the fraternity members cheered for her. Producer Ekta Kapoor said, “Hina we are so proud of you.”
Filmmaker Farah Khan wrote, “I’ve shot many a times at Chandivali Studios and it’s a great place. So proud of you Hina Khan... it’s not where we come from but where we are going that matters. Have fun at Cannes Film Festival, you are probably the only one who is there for the right reasons... A film.”
Actor Karanvir Bohra slammed the scribe’s “snide” remarks and wrote, “Maybe, you had things ready for you maybe you didn’t have a humble beginning, maybe you did... But I think hobnobbing with the glitterati, you have forgotten your roots. This is the same Chandivali Studios where Shah Rukh Khan sir, Naseeruddin Shah sir, Anupam Kherji, Ekta Kapoor and Sushant Singh Rajput have come up the hard way and made a name for themselves. We all are very proud of Hina Khan and for this achievement. We all are with you girl.”
Arjun Bijlani applauded Hina’s self-made journey and thanked the scribe for making her a “superstar”.
Actress Kavita Kaushik wrote, “Chandivali Studios holds way more talent, inspirational stories than one will ever hear from the ‘just lost weight to become an actor just like daddy’ talents. TV actors can make the biggies talk like a jealous chachi (aunt). You have made us all proud.”
Juries over the years
In 72 years of celebrating cinema, only eight Indians have been called upon to adjudge the best films of the year.
Vidya Balan (2013)
Vidya Balan was a part of the nine-member jury alongside Steven Spielberg, Ang Li, Nicole Kidman and Christophe Waltz.
Shekhar Kapur (2010)
Padma Shri awardee Shekhar Kapur served as a jury member in the 63rd Cannes Film Festival. He is one of the few individuals who has contributed to national as well as international cinema — from Mr India to the Golden Globe nominated Elizabeth.
Sharmila Tagore (2009)
Sharmila Tagore was invited in the 62nd edition of the festival.
Nandita Das (2005)
Das is the first Indian to be a jury member twice. Her first time was in 2005 and then in 2013.
aishwarya rai (2003)
The first Indian actress to be invited to Cannes to be a jury member.
Arundhati Roy (2000)
Author and political activist Arundhati Roy was part of the jury board in 2000, three years after her debut novel The God Of Small Things went on to win the Booker Prize in 1997.
Mira Nair (1990)
Mira Nair’s debut film earned her the Golden Camera Award as well as the Audience Award in 1988, following which she joined the jury panel in 1990.
Krishna Riboud (1958)
Krishna Riboud was the first Indian to have been on the panel way back in 1958. She was a historian, collector of Indian and Chinese textiles, also a Tagore descendant, and she passed away in 2000.
Rocketman isn’t so dissimilar from Bohemian Rhapsody
Elton John, the 72-year-old pop star came dressed in a tuxedo with ‘Rocket Man’ emblazoned on the back and regaled attendees with an after-party performance on the beach.
John, an executive producer of the film, hadn’t spoken much about the film before it made its premiere. But donning heart-shaped, red-tinted glasses, he gave the film his hearty blessing. At the post-premiere party, he called it “an emotional night.”
“Even if the film doesn’t make one penny at the box office — which will kill (Paramount Pictures chief) Jim Gianopulos — it is the movie I wanted to make,” John said.
At the party John performed I’m Still Standing before being joined by Taron Egerton, who plays him in the film for a rendition of “Rocket Man.” Egerton was visibly moved to tears after the premiere.
The film is directed by Dexter Fletcher who also took over directing duties on last year’s hit music biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody, after Bryan Singer departed mid-production.
Rocketman isn’t so dissimilar from Bohemian Rhapsody. It’s a glossy music-stuffed biopic with a star-making turn from Egerton. But this film is R-rated and less cautious about its star’s homosexuality.
Les Miserables rings alarm for Paris suburbs
More than 150 years after Victor Hugo’s classic novel, a French film titled Les Miserables gives a gritty, modern view of the Paris suburbs where Jean Valjean first met Cosette. Ladj Ly’s Les Miserables contains no singing or romance, but rather a tough, “The Wire”-like street-level portrait of the Parisian banlieue of Montfermeil. It’s the same neighbourhood where the 37-year-old Ly grew up and still lives.
Ly said he made his movie as “an alarm bell” for the plight of kids growing up in neighbourhoods like Montfermeil. He said, “For the past 20 years, we’ve said things are not going well. We have the impression no one’s listening. I wanted to address a message to Emmanuel Macron, the president of the Republic. It’s important for him to see the film.
“For 20 years now, we have been yellow vests,” he added, referencing the ongoing protests of working-class French. “We’ve been demanding our rights for the past 20 years. We’ve had to cope with police violence for so many years.”
Les Miserables, which is competing for the top Palme d’Or prize, shows the Paris suburbs as a combustible powder keg, where neighbourhood gang leaders and overanxious police are in a constant dance. Much of Ly’s film revolves around the young kids growing up in the housing projects.
In 2015, the Paris banlieue of Clichy-sous-Bois exploded in riots that put an international spotlight on the lives of immigrants and French-Africans in the areas surrounding Paris.
“One shouldn’t forget that three-fourths of the people who live in these housing estates are French,” said Ly. “Now we have the impression that there are different classifications of citizenship. But we’re just French, so accept us as French, full stop.”
Other recent films have sought to capture the reality of the banlieues, including La Haine and Dheepan, which won the Palme d’Or in 2015. The film, Ly’s feature directing debut, drew largely strong reviews for its muscular genre work and passionate social commentary.
“One century later, misery, abject poverty is still present in these housing estates,” said Ly.