Masaan
What is it
The Indo-French co-production is produced by Manish Mundra, Macassar Productions, Phantom Films, Sikhya Entertainment, Arte France Cinema and Pathe productions and is slated for this summer release.
Won two awards - FIPRESCI, International Jury of Film Critics prize and Promising Future prize in the Un Certain Regard section at this year's Cannes.
The film, starring Richa Chadda, Sanjay Mishra, Vicky Kaushal and Shweta Tripathi in the lead roles, received a five-minute-long standing ovation after the first screening at the festival.
The Story
Benares, the holy city on the bank of Ganges, reserves a cruel punishment for those who play with moral traditions. Deepak, a young man from a poor neighborhood, falls hopelessly in love with a girl from a different caste. Devi, a young student who's gone off the rails, is tortured by feelings of guilt following the disappearance of her first lover. Devi's father Pathak, a victim of Police corruption, has lost his moral compass because of money, while a young boy, Jhonta, is in search of family. These characters are all seeking a better future, whilst buffeted between the demands of a modern life and an attachment to tradition. And their paths are about to cross.