Cannes 2025: Wes Anderson Joins Sharmila Tagore, Simi Garewal At Red Carpet

Veteran actresses Sharmila Tagore and Simi Garewal were hailed as “royalty” as they attended the Cannes Film Festival 2025 on Monday evening for the screening of Satyajit Ray's iconic 1970 movie “Aranyer Din Ratri”. A 4K restored version of the Bengali-language film, titled “Days and Nights in the Forest” in English, was showcased at the 78th edition of the prestigious film gala under the Cannes Classics section.

The film’s return to the big screen was made possible through a meticulous restoration project, backed by the Golden Globe Foundation. The original camera and sound negatives, preserved by producer Purnima Dutta, were used for the restoration. The effort reflects a growing global recognition of the importance of preserving South Asian cinematic heritage.

This also marks the fourth consecutive year that a film restored by the Film Heritage Foundation has made it to Cannes. Previous Indian films featured include Thamp, Ishanou, and Manthan.

Satyajit Ray’s ‘Aranyer Din Ratri’ to Premiere at Cannes 2025

From being part of the main competition at the 20th Berlin Film Festival in 1970 to now earning a spot at Cannes 2025, Aranyer Din Ratri has truly stood the test of time. Hollywood filmmaker Wes Anderson, a long-time admirer of Ray, introduced the movie ahead of its screening.

“Anything signed by Satyajit Ray must be cherished and preserved, but the nearly-forgotten ‘Days and Nights in the Forest’ is a special/particular gem,” Anderson said to Variety. “Made in 1970. Modern and novelistic. Ray worked in terrain perhaps more familiar to Cassavetes. A clash/negotiation between castes and sexes. Urbans and rurals," he added.

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The Story of ‘Aranyer Din Ratri’

Based on a novel by renowned Bengali author Sunil Gangopadhyay, Aranyer Din Ratri follows the story of four urban men who venture into the forests of Jharkhand, hoping for a brief escape from city life. What starts as a light-hearted getaway gradually unfolds into a layered tale of social class, gender roles, and the conflict between tradition and modernity. The film features Sharmila Tagore, Simi Garewal, Soumitra Chattopadhyay, and Aparna Sen.

Simi Garewal to Walk the Cannes Red Carpet

Simi Garewal, who starred in the film, will walk the red carpet at Cannes on May 19. Ahead of the event, she shared a behind-the-scenes moment on Instagram. In the video, she is seen browsing outfits for her big day at the film festival.

She wrote, “So I've finally decided as to who will design my ensemble for the red carpet in Cannes!! It's on 19th May, when we present my film with Ray, 'Arranyer Din Ratri', restored by Wes Anderson, Martin Scorsese and the Heritage Foundation. Because I love their aesthetics... I've chosen @karleofashion.”

Take a look at the video here.