`Bombay Talkies` to have gala screening at Cannes

Cannes: `Bombay Talkies`, the anthology tribute to 100 years of Indian cinema by four top filmmakers, will have its gala screening at the 66th Cannes Film Festival, where India is the guest country this year.

The film directed by Anurag Kashyap, Dibakar Banerjee, Zoya Akhtar and Karan Johar, weaves together four stories and stars Rani Mukerji, Randeep Hooda, Nawazuddin Siddiqui besides special appearances by Amitabh Bachchan and Aamir Khan. "`Bombay Talkies` gala screening at Cannes... Yay," Kashyap posted on Twitter. The prestigious film festival today unveiled the impressive line-up, while announcing another Indian film Amit Kumar`s `Monsoon Shootout` in the midnight screening, a non-competition category. Nawazuddin, who is also part of `Monsoon Shootout`, is happy to return to the festival. "It feels great to have two of my films this year at Cannes as both are quality films. Working with Dibakar in `Bombay Talkies` was great because he made me prepare a lot. I have known Amit Kumar for a long time as I have previously worked in BAFTA winning short film `The Bypass`," Nawaz said. The festival will have significant Indian presence this year to celebrate the centenary of the country`s cinema. Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who has a cameo in Baz Luhrmann`s `The Great Gatsby`, will be present at the film`s premiere on day one of the festival. The Leonardo DiCaprio starrer will open Cannes film fest this year. The French government has specially invited Cannes red carpet regular Aishwarya Rai Bachchan this year. Also, actor-director Nandita Das is a part of the jury for Short Films and Cinefoundation, headed by acclaimed director Jane Campion. This year`s Cannes film festival will run from May 15 to 26. The competition line-up which was unveiled by Thierry Fremaux today at a press conference, has big ticket films like Ryan Gosling starrer Nicolas Winding Refn`s highly-anticipated `Drive` follow-up `Only God Forgives`. `The Descendants` director Alexandar Payne`s next `Nebraska`, Steven Soderbergh`s Matt Damon-Michael Douglas starrer Librance biopic `Beyond the Candelabra` and Iranian director Asghar Farhadi`s `The Past` are in the competition. Other films in the running for the coveted Palme d`Or include Roman Polanski`s `Venus In Fur` and `Inside Llewyn Davis` by the Coen brothers, `Wara NoTate` by Takashi Mike. Un Certain Regard sidebar will be opened by Sofia Coppola`s `The Bling Ring`. Actor James Fraco is in the Un Certain Regard for his film `As I Lay Dying` so is `Anonymous` by Mohammad Rasolouf besides other filmmakers. Orlando Bloom and Forest Whitaker-starrer `Zulu` will be the closing night film. Steven Spielberg is set to preside over the jury. PTI