Nawazuddin Siddiqui's 'Manto' screened at Cannes 2018 a day after its teaser release here in India!

Nandita Das’ film ‘Manto’ starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui exposed its first teaser on 12^th May, 2018 and we’re already gripped by the spitting image and persona of the original Urdu fiction writer Saadat Hasan Manto in Nawazuddin. Penned and directed by actress-filmmaker Nandita Das, ‘Manto’ is a biography of the controversial socio-political Urdu writer Saadat Hasan Manto who portrayed the reality of the society during the Partition of India in 1947 by turning it into his fiction stories. The film’s teaser unveiled by Viacom18 Motion Pictures takes us back to the Post-Independence period of India and is full of fiery truths, with a fight for free speech and an intense aura surrounding Manto and his family members as they struggle to see one picture. In the film, Nawazuddin effortlessly wears Manto’s skin and speaks his mind- “Main wahi likhta hun jo jaanta hun, jo dekhta hun. Main toh bas apni kahaani ko ek aaina samajhta hun jismein samaaj apne aap ko dekh sakey.” The much-awaited film has already made its way to the Un Certain Regard category of the prestigious 71^st Cannes Film Festival. ‘Manto’ made its debut  yesterday and is supposed to be screened for two more days, i.e, on 14^th May (today) and 18^th May. The official line-up was pre-announced by the Cannes’ artistic Director Thierry Fremaux in Paris on 12^th April, 2018. Actress Rasika Dugal, who plays Safia Manto, protagonist’s wife in the biopic, told IANS, "It will be such an honour to present our film there. In the times we live in, a film which strongly defends freedom of speech, should reach a wide audience not just in our country but across the world." The film’s impressive star cast includes Nawazuddin as Manto, Rasika Duggal as Safia, wife of Manto, Tahir Raj Bhasin as Shyam Chaddha, Manto’s friend and inspiration and Rajshri Deshpande as author Ismat Chughtai. Other known stars are Divya Dutta, Ranvir Shorey, Shashank Arora, Paresh Rawal and veteran actor Rishi Kapoor in a cameo role. The lead actors and the filmmaker are currently attending their film’s screening at the French Riveria.  Nawazuddin is seen promoting his character Manto while his co-stars, Rasika and Divya have kept it minimal by opting for a beige gown and a crème-silk saree respectively. Nandita looked as evergreen as she always does in a baby pink saree. Here are the looks:

All set for the Red Carpet at #FestivalDeCannes Thank You @ManishMalhotra pic.twitter.com/oztM5vxTng

— Nawazuddin Siddiqui (@Nawazuddin_S) May 13, 2018

#NationalAward winning actress @divyadutta25 attended the premiere of her film #Manto, dressed elegantly in a white and gold #NeetaLulla saree. @Nanditadas @Nawazuddin_S #CannesFilmFestival2018 #DivyaDutta pic.twitter.com/0zErFpX0zl

— Urban Asian (@UrbanAsian) May 13, 2018

Cast-

#mantothefilm premiere red carpet Cannes! #UnCertainRegard @nanditadas @Nawazuddin_S @RasikaDugal @Viacom18Movies @humasqureshi #TahirBasin @divyadutta25 . FilmStoc is humbled with the honour 🙏 pic.twitter.com/BqcxPZe2i4

— Namrata Goyal (@mantagoyal) May 13, 2018

Today - #Manto #worldpremiere #UCR #Cannes2018 #CannesFilmFestival Great #Urdu writer #20thcenturybboy pic.twitter.com/02D3ULLHah

— asianculturevulture (@asianculturevul) May 13, 2018

Today - #Manto #worldpremiere #UCR #Cannes2018 #CannesFilmFestival Great #Urdu writer #20thcenturybboy pic.twitter.com/02D3ULLHah

— asianculturevulture (@asianculturevul) May 13, 2018

four of us @mantagoyal @divyadutta25 @RasikaDugal here. Many more descending today. #manto contingent will be in full force. More than 20 of us!! So happy to be able to share the excitement. Nervousness will be mine alone! pic.twitter.com/GbM1q1SWaU

— Nandita Das (@nanditadas) May 13, 2018

We hope the Jury sees a masterpiece as a masterpiece and it doesn’t fail the spirit of Manto. Watch the teaser below: