Cannes 2015: Standing Ovation For Masaan Makes Richa Chadha Teary

A small film with a big heart upstaged Bollywood at the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday evening. As actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan released a scene from her comeback film Jazbaa at a seaside event in the south of France, first-time director Neeraj Ghaywan's Masaan had its audience on its feet for a five minute standing ovation.

Masaan actress Richa Chadha was moved to tears:
 

Got teary at the 5 minute long standing ovation. Thank you everyone. @ghaywan, first thanks to you. pic.twitter.com/dFhoRNoafn

— RichaChadha (@RichaChadha_) May 19, 2015

So did her director:
 

Broke down at the unstoppable applause. Thanks everyone! Missed you so much @anuragkashyap72, editor @nitin_baid, DP @avinasharun20! #Masaan

— Neeraj Ghaywan (@ghaywan) May 19, 2015

And her co-star Shweta Tripathi:
 

Sweetst khushi ke aasoos hppnd :') Thank you @ghaywan fr ths beautful film n memories tht will last a lfetme #Masaanpic.twitter.com/50aNCxQ74L

— Shweta Tripathi (@battatawada) May 19, 2015

Masaan, which means 'crematorium' in Hindi, is one of two Indian films being screened in the Un Certain Regard section. The other is Punjabi film Chauthi Koot.


The film also stars Nikhil Sahni, Vicky Kaushal and Sanjay Mishra.

Ahead of the premiere:
 

The beautiful actors of MASAAN! @Festival_Cannes Premiere today at 4:30 PM, Salle Debussy. The BIG day! #Cannes2015pic.twitter.com/zgf7iL96bA

— Neeraj Ghaywan (@ghaywan) May 19, 2015

The director and his actors attended a photocall for the film before the screening.
 
Image courtesy: AFP
Neeraj Ghaywan assisted Anurag Kashyap on his two-part crime drama Gangs of Wasseypur, which also screened at Cannes and was as warmly received. Masaan is produced by Anurag's Phantom Films.