Cannes Film Festival 2022: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Nayanthara, Madhavan, Tamannaah, Pooja Hegde, AR Rahman and others, to represent India

It is well known that Deepika Padukone has returned to the Cannes Film Festival not as a participant, but as a jury member. Apart from her, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, AR Rahman, Beast actor Pooja Hegde, Aditi Rao Hydari, Helly Shah, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Hina Khan, Nayanthara, Madhavan and others, are making it to the 75th Cannes Film Festival, set to happen on May 17. Among Indian actors, who are set to walk the prestigious red carpet, are Tamannaah Bhatia and Pooja Hegde, who have reached France. Recently, the Beast actor, dressed in a white formal shirt, was spotted at the Mumbai airport before she was heading to the Cannes Film Festival.

The 11-day festival will run through May 28. There is a special focus on India, as it is officially the Country of Honour at the Marche’ Du Film, organised alongside the Cannes Film Festival. This is to celebrate the 75-year ties between India and France. Unlike last year, Covid-19 protocols have been loosened up a bit, we hear.

OTTplay had told you Madhavan-directed Rocketry would have its world premiere at the Cannes Film Market in Paris. A biographical drama based on the life of Nambi Narayanan, the ISRO scientist who was falsely accused of espionage, Rocketry, will have its world premiere at the Palais des Festivals of the market screening on May 19.

Besides, Fantico, a digital licensed platform of Vistas Media Capital, will launch its first metaverse experience, in partnership with Kamal Haasan’s pan-Indian film, Vikram at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival.

The film stars Kamal Haasan, Vijay Sethupathi and Fahadh Faasil, and is directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj. The music is by Anirudh, and the film is produced by Kamal Haasan and R Mahendran.

The company, in a press statement, said that VistaVerse will offer Vikram NFTs, which will be a ticket to the experience. "We will offer many more utilities to the buyers, such as access to unique artwork of characters, digital avatars, props, posters, mystery boxes, film memorabilia, fan interaction moments, private screenings, access to by−invite-only, to even a travelling VistaDome party, along with a choice to convert some of the NFTs to actual underlying tangible assets,” the statement added.

Joining the celebrities, Pa Ranjith will be launching the first look poster of his next, titled Vettuvam, on May 19. "Vettuvam means to hunt in Tamil. With one title, there will be a film as well as a web series made. Ranjith will be writing and directing both. Vettuvam will be a new take on Robin Hood. It will primarily be a rural gangster film and will predominantly take place against the backdrop of a prison. There will be some cop-related elements to the story as well," read a report, published by Silverscreen.

A cinema hall called the Olympia Screen has been dedicated to India on May 22 for screening “Unreleased Movies”— Godavari, Alpha Beta Gamma, Boomba Ride, Dhuin and Tree Full of Parrots. Films from Tamil, Marathi, Malayalam, Mishing and Hindi languages will be screened at the festival, too. Additionally, a film by Satyajit Ray has been restored for screening at the Cannes Classics section, on the birth anniversary of the legendary filmmaker.

PM Narendra Modi penned a note wishing India all the best at the festival. Akshay Kumar was expected to walk the red carpet but had to opt-out, at the last minute, after testing Covid-19 positive.

On the other hand, Tamannaah, whose latest outing was November Story, will be seen in Anil Ravipudi's F3: Fun and Frustration. She also has Bole Chudiyan, Gurthunda Seethakalam, Babli Bouncer, Bhola Shankar and Plan A Plan B, in the pipeline.