Titli makers excited about Cannes selection

The film is the only Indian movie selected for competition at Cannes this year.


Ians April 19, 2014
The makers of Titli — director Kanu Behl and co-producer Dibakar Banerjee — are confident that the “difficult and exciting” journey of bringing Titli to life will bear fruit for them. PHOTO: FILE

MUMBAI:


Indian film-maker Kanu Behl’s Titli coming from the stables of Dibakar Bannerjee Productions has been chosen for screening in Un Certain Regard section of the 67th Cannes International Film Festival, to be held May 14-25.


Backed by Yash Raj Films (YRF) and produced by Dibakar Banerjee, Titli revolves around the volatile relationship between two brothers  — one of whom runs away from home to escape his oppressive family, but turns to a life of crime. The film stars Ranvir Shorey, Amit Sial and newcomer Shashank Arora.

An excited Ranvir took to Twitter to share his excitement: “Finally Cannes will see something I’m in! So happy and excited! Titli (at) Cannes2014 Un Certain Regard.”

In development for over two years, the script for Titli was selected for Film Bazaar’s Screenwriter’s Lab in 2012 and won the Post-Production Award at Film Bazaar’s Work-In-Progress Lab in 2013.

Earlier this year, YRF had announced that it had roped in The Lunchbox fame producer Guneet Monga to help in the international sales, promotion and festival strategies for Titli. The news has given her much reason to cheer. “Titli flies to Cannes. Very, very happy and proud of the director Kanu Behl and producers Dibaker Banerjee Productions and Yash Raj Films. Congratulations,” Monga posted on her Facebook page, as soon as the news was made official at a press conference in Paris Thursday.

Talking about the film, Behl said, “Titli is a film about family, roots and the ghosts within our most intimate relationships. It’s an extremely personal film. The journey to the core of the film has been a difficult and exciting one and I’m looking forward to it going out into the world.”

“This is a proud moment for me and all of us at Dibakar Banerjee Productions and YRF. Kanu Behl’s smashing debut will make India proud,” he added.

The Un Certain Regard was introduced as a competitive section at the Cannes gala in 1978. In 1989, Shaji N. Karun’s Piravi, which was in Un Certain Regard, won a Camera d’Or Special Mention. Ten years later, in 1999, Murali Nair’s Marana Simhasanam won another Camera d’or. 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 20th, 2014.

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