Satyajit Ray’s iconic Bengali film ‘Aranyer Din Ratri’ will be screened at the 78th Cannes Film Festival in the prestigious Cannes Classics section. The 1970 film returns to the global stage in a newly restored 4K version, celebrating Ray’s legacy in world cinema.
The screening will be graced by veteran actress Sharmila Tagore and acclaimed filmmaker Wes Anderson, alongside Purnima Dutta, Margaret Bodde of The Film Foundation, and Shivendra Singh Dungarpur of the Film Heritage Foundation.
The Cannes Film Festival 2025, set to begin on May 13 and conclude on May 24 at the French Riviera, will honour the cinematic brilliance of Ray by showcasing ‘Aranyer Din Ratri’ as part of its commitment to preserving heritage cinema.
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Based on Sunil Gangopadhyay’s novel, ‘Aranyer Din Ratri’ features a stellar cast including Soumitra Chatterjee, Rabi Ghosh, Pahari Sanyal, Sharmila Tagore, and Simi Garewal. The story follows four friends on a retreat into the forests of Jharkhand and touches on themes of masculinity, class, and cultural dislocation.
The 4K restoration of the film was sourced from the original negatives, meticulously preserved by producer Purnima Dutta, who also produced Ray’s other acclaimed works like ‘Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne’ (1969) and ‘Pratidwandi’ (1970).
‘Aranyer Din Ratri’ originally premiered in 1970 and gained international acclaim, earning a Best Film nomination at the 20th Berlin International Film Festival.
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The Cannes Classics section this year will also spotlight other restored heritage films including ‘Gehenu Lamai’ (1978), a Sinhalese film by Sri Lankan director Sumitra Peries.
With Indian cinema set to take centre stage at Cannes 2025, the screening of Ray’s masterpiece further cements his lasting impact on global film history.
