Wes Anderson Champions Satyajit Ray’s Legacy; Sharmila Tagore Honors It In Style

Photo: X (Left), Diet Sabya (Right)

India-West News Desk

MUMBAI – The 78th Cannes Film Festival received a jolt of cinematic nostalgia and grace on the evening of May 19, as legendary actresses Sharmila Tagore and Simi Garewal reunited on the red carpet for a special screening of Aranyer Din Ratri (Days and Nights in the Forest), the 1970 Bengali classic by Satyajit Ray.

But the moment wasn’t just a reunion of iconic performers—it marked the culmination of a six-year restoration project spearheaded by none other than American auteur Wes Anderson. Beginning in 2019, the restoration was launched through Anderson’s collaboration with Martin Scorsese’s The Film Foundation, and brought together global preservation partners including the Film Heritage Foundation, Janus Films, The Criterion Collection, and the Golden Globe Foundation.

“Anything signed by Satyajit Ray must be cherished and preserved,” Anderson said in a statement. “But the nearly-forgotten Days and Nights in the Forest is a particular gem.” He praised the film’s modern tone and psychological complexity: “Ray worked in terrain perhaps more familiar to Cassavetes. A clash between castes and sexes, urbans and rurals… The great Sharmila Tagore: mysterious, cerebral, mesmerizing. From the master, another masterpiece.”

Sharmila Tagore’s presence at Cannes was more than symbolic. Dressed in a striking green saree and accompanied by her daughter Saba Pataudi, she brought a living connection to Ray’s legacy. Simi Garewal, also part of Ray’s cinematic universe, complemented her in an elegant ivory ensemble. A candid photo of the two, shared by fashion watchdog Diet Sabya, captured their enduring bond and timeless charm.

Aranyer Din Ratri, which also starred Soumitra Chatterjee, is considered one of Ray’s most socially perceptive films, blending themes of modern alienation, class tension, and gender dynamics—all with the quiet intensity the director is celebrated for.