In an unprecedented and significant event, Anasuya Sengupta has become the first Indian actress to win the prestigious Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival.
This historic achievement came for her remarkable performance in ‘The Shameless’, an entertaining film which competed in the Un Certain Regard section of the 77th edition of the festival.
While receiving her award, Anasuya emotionally said, “This is for the queer community and other marginalised communities across the world who bravely fought a battle they shouldn’t have to fight.”
“Looking at more women is the way forward, and the more brown there is, the better,” she said.
The 77th Cannes Film Festival has been an important event for India.
Apart from Anasuya’s phenomenal win, there was also a special screening of Shyam Benegal’s classic film ‘Manthan’, marking almost 48 years since its original release.
The festival also saw a dazzling array of Indian celebrities and influencers hitting the red carpet.
This year, Indian films and actors received multiple nominations in various categories, underlining India’s growing influence in global cinema.
Kolkata-based Anasuya Sengupta gave a standout performance as Renuka in ‘The Shameless’, directed by Bulgarian filmmaker Konstantin Bozhanov.
The film traces the harrowing yet empowering journey of Renuka, who escapes from a Delhi brothel after killing a police officer.
The plot also depicts her complicated relationship with her lover Omara Shetty.
In addition to the Indian triumph at Cannes 2024, two Indian films won top honours at La Cinéfaye Selection.
Kannada short film ‘Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know’ directed by Chidananda Naik, a student of Film and Television Institute of India, won the first place.
Meanwhile, ‘Bunnyhood’, directed by Manasi Maheshwari, who hails from Meerut in Uttar Pradesh and is currently studying in the UK, bagged the third spot.
The 77th Cannes Film Festival concluded on May 25, marking an important milestone for Indian cinema on the global stage. (ANI)
