Nandita's Manto on Cannes canvas

Cannes: Manto is on the move in Cannes. The first look of Nandita Das’ upcoming film, unveiled at Cannes, has triggered much interest among buyers and festival programmers looking for India-themed content.

The director feels that her sophomore venture is an extension of sorts of her first film Firaaq, made in 2008, “although that is not the intention”. She says: “The stories that I chose for Firaaq were more dramatic, but the spirit of the new film is pretty much the same.”

“Manto was a politically engaged writer whose work was infused with deep humanism. He gave voice to the voiceless by turning the spotlight on factory workers, prostitutes and others existing on the margins of society,” says Das, explaining why her film is timely.

Manto focuses on four years of the life of iconic Urdu writer who presented brutally honest portraitures in late 1940s.