No winner at Cannes

HOLLYWOOD REEL

Cannes this year has no Indian film that can walk away with the "Palme d'Or".

As I stroll on the world famous Croissette in Cannes I am bombarded by the promos of Indian films on the wide outdoor screens.

I am reminded of the government of India film exports committee meeting in Mumbai a few years ago where an elderly film maker quizzed me: "You seem to know a lot about this Cannes Film Festival. Where is it being held this year?"

Five years on, Indian film makers have yet to discover the magic of Cannes.

The Cannes International Film Festival, held annually in May on the French Riviera, attracts the glitterati for its parties as much as for its screenings, besides the annual orgy of Hollywood glitz.

Over 20,000 directors, producers and agents work the crowds in pursuit of lucrative movie deals. For 12 days in May the art and commerce of the global movie business meet and intermingle freely on the Mediterranean.

"Palme d'Or" winning film makers at Cannes often emerge as the year's most talked-about film makers and their films have attractive sales prospects.

The 58TH edition of the festival which opened on May 11 features movies from 13 countries, including Israel, Iraq, China, Taiwan and Japan.

Among the 20 films in competition for the coveted "Palme d'Or" this year are five Asian films by directors from China, South Korea, Taiwan and Japan. But not a single film has been selected from India.

For years Cannes was the preserve of critically acclaimed Indian films from master film makers even though an Indian film has never won the "Palme d'Or."

As early as 1946, Chetan Anand's "Neecha Nagar" won recognition for India at Cannes. This was followed by Bimal Roy's "Do Bhigha Zameen" in 1954.

Satyajit Ray's first feature film, "Pather Panchali," was awarded the Human Document award in 1956. Baby Naaz won the special jury mention for her performance in "Boot Polish" in 1955 while "Gautam the Buddha" by Rajbans Khanna won the special mention in 1957.

In 1983 Mrinal Sen won the jury prize for his film "Kharij." Three India born film makers, Mira Nair ("Salaam Bombay"), Deepa Mehta ("Sam and Me") and Murali Nair ("Simhasanam") won the Camera D' Or awards for the best first feature film.

Manish Jha's "A Very Very Silent Film" won the jury prize for short film in 2002.

This year the restored version of Satyajit Ray's "Pather Panchali" which was completed half a century ago is the only film to represent a nation that is the largest producer of films in the world.

In addition, three Indian film stars representing three very different dimensions of the Indian film industry are in Cannes.

The talented Nandita Das is on the jury this year, Aishwarya Rai was in Cannes for endorsements and upcoming actress Mallika Sherawat is here to attend the premiere of Jackie Chan's "The Myth."

Says veteran film maker and Cannes regular Krishna Shah: "There is no better place to network "� you can make all the contact and deals you need in Cannes."

Not surprisingly, Indian film makers too are vying for the attention of international buyers and distributors with over 80 screenings of Indian films scheduled in the Market section.

iDream Production's latest film "Naina" had a world premier. The other Indian film that's making waves is Ketan Mehta's "The Rising," starring Aamir Khan.

Subhash Ghai has re edited his latest film "Kisna" and produced a tighter English version. Industrialist and film producer Dr. B. K. Modi is pitching his first feature film "Buddha" to international companies from the Elton John suite at the Carlton.

Kishore Lulla of Eros Entertainment and Ranchor Jumani of WEG are leading the export drive of Hindi films. India born Hollywood producer Ashok Amritraj has his own yacht parked in the Mediterranean, besides hotel suites in Carlton.

A party to announce the launch of his new distribution company Hyde Park International on May 14 attracted the glitterati and leading Hollywood stars.

Other Indian companies attending Cannes this year are WSG Pictures, Ad Labs, E City, PVR, Percept, NFDC and UTV.

In the last few years the information and broadcasting ministry, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry and the Confederation of Indian Industry have contributed immensely to promoting the Indian entertainment industry overseas and to the sale of Indian films at Cannes.

Attempts were even made to create a Cannes-like film festival in Goa last year and the India Party on May 19 at the Carlton Beach remains one of the most important attractions during the festival. Yet we are just another country participating in Cannes.

Now in my eleventh year at Cannes, I feel the only missing part of the puzzle is an Indian film that can walk away with the "Palme d'Or" and become a commercial success overseas.

It seems the day when India will truly discover Cannes is not far off.

Lall is the president and CEO of LALL Entertainment, a company based in Los Angeles and New Delhi.

He can be contacted at lallentertainment@hotmail.com .