CANNES: But it’s sad that Bollywood is not reigning here. For starters, there’s not even a single Indian movie in the main competition. That for a country which produces the largest number of movies in the world is really sorry going.
Jury chairman Wong Kar Wai said he was not disappointed that not many Asian movies are in the main competition. “Many movies are being made this year which should make it to competition in the coming year,” he said.
Then, the Indian pavilion put together by the CII in the international village along the beach was choc-a-bloc with Indians. The flag flaying above spoke lengths about the fact that Indians were together under one roof. However, it would be advisable that CII organize it better so that it does not look as crowded as it does.
Some of the Indian producers and distributors who had paid Rs 150,000 to come under CII umbrella expressed that the format had not yielded results.
Another exhibitor who had taken an independent stand in the Palais said that while the pavilion was a good idea what defeated the purpose was the number of companies whichcame under it. “It’s quite comical to see all the Indian companies pouncing on any visitor entering the pavilion,” he said.
Surely, the CII will get its act together in time and come up with a better offering, but even then the buzz doing the rounds of the Palais was that business has been relatively slow on day one.
Among the Indian companies who are exhibiting include: Dharma Productions, UTV Motion Pictures, Adlabs Independent Film Makers stand, Eros, Sunstone Entertainment. Sahara Entertainment which exhibited last year chose not to take a stand this year at the Palais during the Cannes Film Festival.
UTV has planned screenings for Rang De Basanti over the next few days. Head honcho Ronnie Screwvala was slated to arrive on 17 May, while Karan Johar is slated to arrive on 19 May.
The Film and Television Producers Guild of India is hosting a cocktail on the 19th by the beach. Head of the guild Amit Khanna was doing the rounds along with Supran Sen inviting guests to attend the party
