Anurag KashyapHis films, which have often found a place at the Cannes Film Festival – the last, in 2023, ‘Kennedy’ – have returned to the famous event once again. But unlike previous years, the filmmaker is not at Cannes this time with a film. Instead, he says, it’s about understanding where cinema is going in the rapidly changing global film landscape.Kashyap admits that he feels disillusioned with filmmaking these days and is searching for clarity.“I’m here to figure out a lot of things. I’m really sick of making movies. On the one hand, there’s AI. And with the current state of the film industry… I don’t know what’s being done, or why it’s being done. So I’ve come here because this is not a problem unique to India.” Filmmakers all over the world are facing it, even in Hollywood, everywhere,” he said in an interview with Sucharita Tyagi.Furthermore, the filmmaker explained that one of the biggest reasons for going to Cannes this year was to observe fresh voices in cinema and understand how young directors are reinventing stories. “There are 11 new filmmakers making their debut in the competition, and that’s why I came. I wanted to understand what these new filmmakers are doing. I’ve been watching a lot of their work, and to be honest, it’s been very rewarding, the way they’re breaking the rules, the way they’re approaching cinema,” says Kashyap.He also revealed that film festivals often help him regain perspective whenever he feels stuck creatively. “I came here to figure out a way forward, because whenever I feel lost I don’t know what to do, that’s when I start touring film festivals.”Speaking about the culture of Cannes, Kashyap expressed his disappointment that the red carpet has become the main focus for many, overshadowing the true celebration of cinema.“In India, the obsession with Cannes is only about walking the red carpet. People don’t understand that there is a festival beyond that, and its purpose extends beyond the red carpet.” He then jokingly added about his red carpet appearances, “Hum log side se chale jaate hai (We walk through it in silence).”The filmmaker emphasized that films and discussions must remain at the heart of the festival experience. “That’s the least important part of Cannes. What matters more is the cinema. And I don’t think most people even come here for the cinema. Many of the Indians who come to the market or the India Pavilion hardly even watch the films. I rarely see anyone actually going to the screenings. I saw only two people watching a film.”“Meanwhile, Anurag Kashyap is gearing up for the release of his film ‘Bandar’, in which he stars. Bobby Deol. The film had its world premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival. Early reactions at TIFF described the film as provocative and polarizing, and some critics found parts of the narrative controversial, particularly in relation to the #MeToo movement. The film also sparked controversy online after several viewers labeled it “pro-male” and questioned its messages.
