Indian films 'Masaan', 'Chauthi Koot' head to Cannes

Mumbai, April 16
Gurvinder Singh's Punjabi film “Chauthi Koot” and Neeraj Ghaywan's debut feature "Masaan" are among the Indian films that have been chosen to be screened in the official UnCertain Regard section of the 68th edition of the Cannes International Film Festival.

The announcement was made in Cannes on Thursday.

While “Masaan” is a debut feature by Ghaywan, and stars Richa Chadda in a key role, Punjabi film "Chauthi Koot" (The Fourth Direction) is based on Warvan Singh Sandhu's eponymous collection of short stories.

Happy with the news, "Masaan" director Ghaywan posted on Twitter: "PHHEEEWWWW!!! Happiest tweet I will ever put up. Our first film, MASAAN is selected at UN CERTAIN REGARD section of CANNES 2015."

Richa, whose "Gangs Of Wasseypur" was also screened at Cannes, said she is "thrilled to be going again to Cannes with a movie".

"Over the moon, and excited about this for India and the team of 'Masaan'. Thanks Neeraj for casting me, and the producers for backing this film. It's a huge deal," she added.

Meanwhile, Sunil Doshi, one of the producers of "Chauthi Koot", also shared the Cannes news on Twitter.

Sharing his joy in a statement, Doshi said: "For me this film is a tribute to Mani Kaul."

An Indo-French co-production between Doshi, Catherine Dussard, Kartikeya Narayan Singh and supported by the National Film Development Corporation, the film delves into the fears of a community following Indira Gandhi’s assassination in 1984, the unspeakable brutalities it unleashed and the resistance movement it spawned.

Shot in Amritsar and Ferozepur, the film does not feature any professional actors.

The film's director, Gurvinder Singh, had earlier directed "Anhey Ghorey Da Daan" (Alms for a Blind Horse), which was also the first Punjabi film to be showcased at the Venice Film Festival.

Apart from the two films, "Miyan Kal Aana", a short movie by Shamas Siddiqui, younger brother of actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, is part of the Short Film Catalog of the Cannes gala, which be held May 13-24.