A restored gem from Satyajit Ray’s filmography will lead India’s presence at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, which begins Tuesday at the iconic French Riviera. Ray’s 1970 classic ‘Aranyer Din Ratri’ (Days and Nights in the Forest) has been selected for the Cannes Classics section—marking a proud moment for Indian cinema at the prestigious international event.

According to a UNI report, the restored version of ‘Aranyer Din Ratri’ will be screened as part of a segment that honours world cinema’s heritage. The restoration was undertaken in collaboration with Martin Scorsese’s Film Foundation, India’s Film Heritage Foundation, and the Criterion Collection.

Starring Sharmila Tagore, the film tells the story of four urban men seeking peace in the forest while confronting their own lives, and also delicately portrays the lives of the Santhal tribal community. The 4K version has been restored using the original negatives preserved in Kolkata and will have its world premiere at Cannes, with both Sharmila Tagore and Wes Anderson in attendance.

Alongside Ray’s timeless work, two contemporary Indian films are also part of this year’s official selection. Mumbai-based director Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound is competing in the Un Certain Regard section, known for highlighting new cinematic voices. The film follows two friends from a North Indian village who dream of becoming policemen as a way to escape poverty and reclaim dignity. Ghaywan, who gained critical acclaim for his debut Masaan, had previously won the Un Certain Regard’s Most Promising Future Prize in 2015.

Adding to the Indian line-up is a 24-minute short film titled ‘A Doll Made Up of Clay’, produced by Kolkata’s Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute. Directed by Kokob Gebrehaweria Tesfay, an international student at SRFTI, the film delves into the lives and struggles of African footballers living in Kolkata. It has been selected for La Cinef, the Cannes competition dedicated to international film schools.

This marks the fourth consecutive year that India has had a restored film in the Cannes Classics section. Previous entries include Malayalam filmmaker G Aravindan’s ‘Thampu’ in 2022, Manipuri director Aribam Syam Sharma’s ‘Ishanou’ in 2023, and Shyam Benegal’s ‘Manthan’ in 2024.

“Working on the restoration of Aranyer Din Ratri has been an incredibly moving experience,” said Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, Director of Film Heritage Foundation. “The film’s beauty, music, and sensitive storytelling have been brought back to life after 56 years.”

“It’s such a contemporary film, even today,” said Sharmila Tagore, reflecting on its timeless themes and emotional resonance with audiences across generations.

As the festival opens with French debutante Amélie Bonnin’s ‘Leave One Day’ (Partir ‘Un Jour’), a host of international heavyweights will also premiere their works. These include Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme, Jafar Panahi’s ‘A Simple Accident’, and ‘Lynn Ramsay’s Die My Love’. Directorial debuts by Scarlett Johansson (‘Eleanor The Great’), Kristen Stewart (‘The Chronology of Water’), and Harris Dickinson (‘Urchin’) are also on the slate.

The Indian Pavilion at the Cannes Film Market will be inaugurated on May 14. The 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival will run till May 24.