Filmmaker Satyajit Ray's Aranyer Din Ratri (Days and Nights in the Forest), the 1970 Bengali classic, made a grand return to global stage at Cannes 2025. It became the only Indian film to be screened at the Cannes Classics section at the ongoing 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival. The movie featured Soumitra Chatterjee, Sharmila Tagore, Rabi Ghosh, Pahari Sanyal, and Simi Garewal, among others. On Monday, May 19, the 4K restored version of the film, premiered at the Salle BunÌuel, Palais des Festivals.
The movie's screening not only marks the reunion of the movie's cast-Sharmila Tagore, Simi Garewal after 55 years, but it also cements Ray's position as a versatile director who gave a global status to Indian cinema.
Ahead of Aranyer Din Ratri screening at Cannes, Sharmila and Simi posed for pics along with American filmmaker Wes Anderson, who spearheaded the restoration project. Both Tagore and Garewal were in ethnic ensembles, representing India on the global platform. Anderson looked dapper in a black suit.
Simi Garewal and Sharmila Tagore's Cannes look
Simi hit the Cannes Film Festival 2025 red carpet in a dreamy ivory outfit by Karleo. The 77-year-old looked radiant and exuded elegance as she walked the red carpet for the premiere night of her film. The actress rounded off her look with statement jewellery.
Sharmila opted for a bottle green saree with golden border. She carried a golden clutch to complete her look. The 80-year-old actress pulled off her simple yet stylish look with elan.
Aranyer Din Ratri has been restored by The Film Foundation바카라s World Cinema Project at L바카라Immagine Ritrovata in collaboration with Film Heritage Foundation, Janus Films, The Criterion Collection. Funding has been provided by the Golden Globe Foundation.
Based on Sunil Gangopadhyay바카라s novel of the same name, the masterpiece is Ray's eleventh film, presented at Cannes. Pather Panchali, the first instalment of his Apu trilogy, won the Best Human Document Award at the 1956 Festival de Cannes.
