Satyajit Ray’s ‘Aranyer Din Ratri’ Returns to Cannes in 4K Glory

Sharmila Tagore and Wes Anderson to Present Restored Classic at Cannes 2025, Celebrating Ray’s Enduring Legacy

Satyajit Ray’s seminal 1970 film Aranyer Din Ratri (Days and Nights in the Forest) is set to captivate global audiences once again with its 4K restored screening at the 78th Cannes Film Festival. The film will be showcased in the prestigious Cannes Classics section, highlighting its timeless relevance and cinematic brilliance.

The restoration, a collaborative effort by The Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project, Film Heritage Foundation, Janus Films, and The Criterion Collection, utilized original camera and sound negatives preserved by producer Purnima Dutta. The meticulous process was completed at L’Immagine Ritrovata in Bologna, ensuring the film’s authenticity and visual fidelity.

Sharmila Tagore, who portrayed the enigmatic Aparna in the film, will attend the screening, marking a poignant return to Cannes. Reflecting on the restoration, Tagore remarked, “It’s wonderful that Manik Da’s Aranyer Din Ratri has been restored and will have its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival this year. I have wonderful memories of the time spent with my co-actors, and Manikda’s precision, especially in how he shot the memory game sequence, was incredible. I can’t wait to watch the restored film. Aranyer Din Ratri is such a contemporary film, and I’m sure it will resonate with new audiences worldwide today.”

Acclaimed filmmaker Wes Anderson, a longtime admirer of Ray’s work, will co-present the screening. Anderson praised the film as “modern and novelistic,” noting its exploration of “a clash/negotiation between castes and sexes. Urbans and rurals. Selfish men and their hopes and cruelties and spectacular lack of wisdom. Women who see through them.”

Originally based on Sunil Gangopadhyay’s novel, Aranyer Din Ratri follows four urban men seeking respite in the forests of Jharkhand, only to confront their own prejudices and insecurities. The ensemble cast includes Soumitra Chatterjee, Subhendu Chatterjee, Samit Bhanja, Robi Ghosh, Aparna Sen, and Simi Garewal.

The film’s restoration and screening at Cannes underscore the enduring impact of Ray’s storytelling and the global appreciation for Indian cinema’s rich heritage.