This Article is From May 12, 2015

French Film Dheepan, Shot in India, to Compete at Cannes Film Festival

French Film Dheepan, Shot in India, to Compete at Cannes Film Festival

A still from the film Dheepan

Chennai: French film Dheepan, parts of which have been shot in Tamil Nadu, will vie for the coveted Palm D'Or prize in the Competition Section of the 68th Cannes International Film Festival.

The last Indian film to compete for coveted Palm D'Or at the prestigious gala was Shaji N Karun's Swaham in 1994. It turns out that Dheepan is also a movie with an Indian connect.

India's 'Wide Angle Creations', led by Suresh Balaje and George Pius collaborated with the Paris-based company 'Why Not Productions' to shoot the Jacques Audiard-directed film in India.

Mr Balaje, who will walk the Cannes red carpet with the film's crew, said, "It feels good to have worked with Jacques Audiar's Dheepan. We have a great production talent in India and some of the finest film shooting locations. I'm very confident that India can make a global footprint with its production strengths."

Portions of Dheepan, which is based on the journey of a Sri Lankan Tamil warrior who migrates to Paris, were shot in Rameshwaram, Mandapam and Ooty.

One of the 19 films in the Cannes Competition Section selected from all over the world, Dheepan also stars Chennai-based theatre artiste Kalieaswari Srinivasan in a pivotal role. The leading man is played by Sri Lankan Antonythasan Jesuthasan, who is settled in France.

Over a dozen Indian artistes, including assistant directors have contributed to the making of the film.

The Cannes International Film Festival will also screen the Punjabi film Chauthi Koot, directed by Gurvinder Singh; and Masaan helmed by debut director Neeraj Ghaywan in the Un Certain Regard Section.

Wide Angle Creations has also worked executive production on shooting in India for French film Son Epouse, directed by Michel Spinosa.

The film gala will be held from May 13 to 24.
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