Cannes pays tribute to Bollywood

Cannes: `Bollywood, The Greatest Love Story Ever Told`, a film that celebrates the dazzling world of Hindi cinema, will be screened at this year`s Cannes Film Festival.

The 81-minute film, to be screened out of competition, has been produced by Shekhar Kapur and UTV motion picture and directed by `Delhi 6` helmer Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and documentary filmmaker Jeff Zimbalist. "A swirling and poignant montage in which Shekhar Kapoor, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and Jeff Zimbalist pay tribute to this cinema genre that has contributed to establishing India`s identity in the eyes of the world and to making Mumbai one of the world capitals of film history," festival oraganisers said in a statement. The festival said that the film happened after a chance conversation with Kapur, who served as a jury last year. "We love it. We hate it. We see it as regressive. We see it as modern. We need to breathe it to feel alive. Some say it is the only culture that holds India together. "Some say it gives identity and individuality to 25 million Indians that have left her shores and who`s third generations that are still addicted to it. That`s Bollywood!," Kapur said, describing the Mumbai film industry`s magical sway on people. Indian films failed to make a cut in the official sections of the festival this year barring Sri Lankan director`s Indian co-production `Mushroom`. Last year, Vikramaditya Motwane`s coming of age drama `Udaan` was selected in the Un Certain Regard section of the festival, which runs from May 11 to 22 this year. PTI