May 21, 2025: It was a moment of pride for Indian cinema as Satyajit Ray’s 1970 classic Aranyer Din Ratri was screened in the Cannes Classics section of the Cannes Film Festival in a newly restored version. The event turned even more special with original cast members Sharmila Tagore and Simi Garewal in attendance, alongside Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, founder of the Film Heritage Foundation.
The screening was met with a heartfelt standing ovation, especially when a visibly moved Sharmila Tagore was ushered to the centre of the stage. A video shared by her daughter Saba Ali Khan, who accompanied her to the event, showed the audience rising in appreciation as Sharmila walked toward the screen, smiling at the rousing applause.
Saba shared images and videos from the premiere on social media with the caption, “A little more… of moments. Standing ovation. A beautiful celebration of life. Team that made it all possible. Congratulations!”
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Among the many highlights of the evening was a photograph featuring Sharmila, Saba, Simi Garewal, and filmmaker Wes Anderson, who introduced the film. Anderson, a long-time admirer of Ray, paid homage to the legendary filmmaker by championing this restoration.
The film was restored and presented by The Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project at L’Immagine Ritrovata, in collaboration with Film Heritage Foundation, Janus Films, and The Criterion Collection, with funding support from the Golden Globe Foundation.
Based on Sunil Gangopadhyay’s novel of the same name, Aranyer Din Ratri follows four urban men—played by Soumitra Chatterjee, Subhendu Chatterjee, Samit Bhanja, and Robi Ghosh—who travel to the forests of Palamau (now in Jharkhand) for a holiday that turns into a profound journey of introspection. Sharmila Tagore plays Aparna, a sophisticated city woman, while Simi Garewal delivers a memorable performance as Duli, a Santhal tribal girl.
Even 55 years since its release, Aranyer Din Ratri continues to be celebrated as a timeless study of class, identity, and human connection, and its warm reception at Cannes reaffirms its enduring legacy in world cinema.