It was a proud moment for Indian cinema when ‘Masaan’, the debut feature of Neeraj Ghaywan, premiered at the Uncertain Regard section of the 68th Cannes International Film Festival and was received by a 5 minute long standing ovation by the critics and reviewers.
Overwhelmed by the praise received by the film, Neeraj says, “In year 2012, I went to the Cannes film festival as an assistant director to Anurag Kashyap on ‘Gangs Of Wasseypur’. Three years later, I am here, at the festival with my own film. I cannot explain in words how overwhelmed I am with the response of the critics and reviewers.” He broke down after at the unstoppable five long minute applause.
The film set in Varanasi, follows the life of a young orphan (Nikhil Sahni), a low-caste teenage boy (Vicky Kaushal) who falls in love with an upper-caste girl (Shweta Tripathi), her father (Sanjay Mishra) and a woman (Richa Chadha) are caught in a sex scandal. ‘Masaan’ is Hindi word for crematorium, where the teenage boy works.
The film is an Indo-French co-production, a joint production between Manish Mundra, Macassar Productions, Arte France Cinema, Sikhya Entertainment and Phantom Films. The film stars actors like Richa Chadha and Sanjay Mishra and new comers, Vicky Kaushal and ShwetaTripathi.
Melita Toscan du Plantier of Macassar Productions says, “As soon as we read the script with my partner, we were overwhelmed. We are very proud for our first production to be selected in the Official Selection of Cannes
Film Festival thanks to the talent of Neeraj Ghaywan. It’s been a great collaboration with our Indian
partners: Manish Mundra, Phantom and Sikhya.”
Vikramaditya Motwane, whose ‘Udaan’ was selected in the same section, and who is also one of the producers of ‘Masaan’ attended the festival for the film. He says, “We’re delighted with the response here at the Cannes Film Festival. It is the greatest showcase of films in the whole world and it could not have happened to a more deserving filmmaker or crew.”
