By: Aanya
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| Siddharth's statement in a leading national daily set the industry talking |
South-superstar and Aamir Khan's blockbuster, Rang De Basanti, co-star, Siddharth very recently made heads turn with his statement in a leading national daily that Payal Kapadia’s, All We Imagine As Light, failed to find any audiences in India.
It made the writer ponder, is there something wrong with the way Cannes Film Festival is looked at in India. The writer decided to interview Amit R Agrwal, one of the very few Indians that are regulars at Cannes on why films that are top draws at Cannes Film Festival, win top-awards, fail to strike a chord with Indian audiences.
Agrwal said when he started going to Cannes in 2009 there were only around 50 Indians going to the festival. “Aishwarya Rai, made Cannes so popular that in 2024, there were 500 Indians”, Agrwal chuckles.
Agrwal adds that for Indians, Cannes is another glamour-struck destination and it’s Red Carpet a photo-op. “How many of the influencers that went this year to Cannes know what Palme d’Or is. Yet they know about the red-carpet. What many Indians don’t know is anyone with a ticket can walk the Red Carpet. But it is a big deal for glamour-struck Indians”.
Agrwal said that when he takes the name of Palme d’or winners, these influencers draw a blank, they just get their tickets and come to be on the Red Carpet. It is both good and bad, “good for the French-economy, bad for the serious cinema-lovers, because they are taking away chance of a serious movie-goer that wants to watch a film”, gushes Amit.
Agrwal adds, “I have walked the Red Carpet ’n’ number of times, for me the charm of Red Carpet is gone, now I am here for serious business. He added, how many Indians or these influencers go to producers’ networking events or industry conclaves, none, because they won’t get an invite.
I feel there ought to be an interview process, so that only serious cinema lovers and people from the industry get an access to Cannes Film Festival, but since commercials are involved one can understand the limited access that the general public has.
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| Agrwal says that 90% Indians don't get access to creme-le-creme events |
Agrwal says that as per the estimates Cannes 2025 might see 1000 Indians attending, but other than the pictures on the Red Carpet, what will they really take from the festival.
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| Agrwal says that anyone with the ticket can walk the Red Carpet |
Agrwal further adds, very recently, dummy red-carpets have been added around the city of Cannes, so with a bit of play of the angles, “you might be on the Red Carpet — giving you, your share of 15-minutes of fame”.
The conclusion of the interview brought out the most important aspect, Cannes Film Festival is a very important festival to nurture global cinema. Many projects are green-lit or many talents connect to make cinema, in an ecosystem where making independent cinema is becoming increasingly tough. One has to realize this and use discretion.