It’s Cannes time for Kamal Haasan again. Except, instead of hurriedly trying to get a film at the 67th French film festival like he usually does, he’s heading an Indian delegation which will inaugurate the first ever India Pavillion there - set up jointly by FICCI and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Kamal will have people like I&B secretary Bimal Julka and Uday Chopra for company at the prestigious festival which begins on Wednesday.
Taking his position as the chairman of the FICCI Media and Entertainment Committee - South very seriously, Kamal has broken his shooting schedule in such a way that he will be able to spend four days in Cannes. “Kamal is leaving Chennai on Wednesday morning and will arrive there with the rest of the FICCI team. He will watch movies, make appearances on behalf of the Indian delegation and also spend time with international directors at the India pavillion,” said his spokesperson. The last time that Kamal had an association with Cannes was when they hurriedly tried to get Vishwaroopam canned and completed to show it in the international film’s category in 2012.
Having just returned after shooting for Ramesh Aravind’s Uttama Villain in Turkey, the Vishwaroopam star has moved things around such that the last leg of shooting will commence in Chennai on his return. “The last schedule of shooting will start here as soon as he returns,” the spokesperson added. Kamal himself is thrilled at the opportunity, “Indian films have been selected and honoured at Cannes for many years now and I am happy to be part of the official Indian delegation, which will allow me to speak to the world film community about the Indian film industry today. I am delighted to have this opportunity to speak about the development of the Southern industry,” he said. The India Pavillion, at 112 Village International Riviera, will showcase Indian cinema across languages, with the aim of forging an increasing number of partnerships in distribution, production, filming, technology and promoting film sales and syndication.