📌 Key Points
- Anurag Kashyap believes Indian celebs prioritize Cannes red carpet over cinema.
- He states Indian films often miss submission deadlines for festivals due to fear and delays.
- Only two Indian films, one short and one restored, were officially at Cannes this year.
- Indian celebrities like Alia Bhatt and Urvashi Rautela made significant fashion statements.
Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has voiced strong criticism regarding Indian celebrities’ participation at the Cannes Film Festival. He argues that the focus has shifted from cinema to merely walking the red carpet, overshadowing the festival’s true purpose.
Kashyap’s Critique: Red Carpet vs. Cinema
Every year, the Cannes Film Festival in France has become a spectacle not just for the Indian films presented there, but also for the fashion on the red carpet. On the sidelines of it, filmmaker Anurag Kashyap rues that Indian celebrities and filmmakers have forgotten the point of the festival.
When asked about it again, Anurag remarked that the red carpet was the ‘least important’ part of Cannes and that cinema was the point. He also claimed that the Indians who come to the Cannes market aren’t watching the films.
Indian Films at Cannes: Missed Opportunities
When it was pointed out that the only Indian films at Cannes this year were the short film Shadows of the Moonless Night and the restored film Amma Ariyan, he said, “There is a lot of misinformation in India, and the producers fear festivals. So what happens is, they are never in time. They are delayed. And even if the film had a chance to showcase itself at any of the categories, they lose that chance because they are never in time.”
Celebrity Fashion Dominates Cannes Buzz
While only two films might have been sent to the film festival, Indian celebrities have been serving looks there. Alia Bhatt made waves in a blush-pink ensemble on the red carpet, while Urvashi Rautela wore a silver, diamante outfit. Tara Sutaria wore an ivory gown to the Red Sea Film Foundation’s Women in Cinema gala dinner. Several influencers and actors are also expected to make an appearance in the coming days. ‘
Kashyap’s remarks highlight a growing disparity between the artistic intent of film festivals and the commercial allure of celebrity appearances. It sparks a debate on India’s true representation on the global cinematic stage.
