It was a moment of pride for Indian cinema as Satyajit Ray’s 1970 classic Aranyer Din Ratri was given a standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival 2025. Restored to its former glory, the film was screened under the Cannes Classics section to thunderous applause from an international crowd.
Legends Return to the Spotlight
Sharmila Tagore and Simi Garewal, the cast of the classic film, were present at the special screening with Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, the initiator of Film Heritage Foundation. Saba Ali Khan, Sharmila Tagore’s daughter, was also there, sharing close behind-the-scenes details of the tearful evening.
“A little more moments. Standing ovation. A beautiful celebration of life. The team that made it all possible. Congratulations!” Saba posted the captions of videos and photos from the night. One clip showed the crowd rising in applause as Sharmila walked gracefully to the center of the screening stage, smiling elegantly.
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Another photo caught Sharmila and Simi commenting on the legacy of the film. A separate, touching image featured the pair alongside director Wes Anderson.
The newly restored version of #SatyajitRay’s #AranyerDinRatri received a standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival.#Trending pic.twitter.com/s6JJo0137g
— Filmfare (@filmfare) May 20, 2025
Wes Anderson’s Tribute & the Restoration of the Film
Wes Anderson, who has been an admirer of Satyajit Ray’s filmmaking brilliance for a long time, presented the screening. The World Cinema Project of The Film Foundation and L’Immagine Ritrovata restored Aranyer Din Ratri, with co-restoration from the Film Heritage Foundation, Janus Films, and the Criterion Collection. The Golden Globe Foundation supported the project generously.
Cinematic Classic Restored
Inspired by Sunil Gangopadhyay’s novel of the same title, Aranyer Din Ratri explores the lives of four city-bred men. They seek an escape into the forests of Palamau, Jharkhand. The adventure becomes a reflection of their personality layers and inner realities. Supporting Sharmila and Simi, there are powerhouse performances from Soumitra Chatterjee, Subhendu Chatterjee, Samit Bhanja, Robi Ghosh, and Aparna Sen.
In the movie, Sharmila depicts Aparna, a sophisticated city lady, while Simi excels as Duli, a Santhal tribal girl. The emotional depth and understated realism of the characters remain impactful, even over half a century later.
