Sharmila Tagore and Simi Garewal recently graced the Cannes Film Festival for the screening of the restored version of Satyajit Ray’s acclaimed film, Aranyer Din Ratri. This screening was part of the Cannes Classics section, following a six-year restoration effort led by American filmmaker Wes Anderson. Social media buzzed with photos and videos, celebrating the presence of these Indian cinema legends at a global event and praising the film's refreshed 4K resolution.

Sharmila Tagore, accompanied by her daughter Saba Pataudi, wore an elegant emerald-green saree with minimalistic jewelry. Saba Pataudi shared moments from their Cannes experience on social media, reflecting on the blend of chaos and calm, and the opportunity to explore new experiences. Simi Garewal, known for her signature all-white attire, wore an embroidered outfit created by designer Karleo, paired with a chunky necklace, maintaining her classic style.

In an interview, Sharmila Tagore discussed Aranyer Din Ratri, noting its better reception outside India during its original release, particularly in Europe. She highlighted Simi Garewal's casting as a tribal woman, which was unusual given Simi's height and sophistication, but effective due to makeup and styling. Tagore also described her character as the “conscience of the plot,” influencing the other characters subtly. She ranks Aranyer Din Ratri third among her favorite works, praising the camaraderie and challenging location in Palamu.

Tagore revealed that Satyajit Ray handled the camera work himself for Aranyer Din Ratri, marking a shift towards him taking charge of various departments in his films. She also mentioned Goutam Ghose's remake, Abar Aranye, for which she won a National Award for Best Supporting Actress, reprising her original role alongside Soumitra Chatterjee and Shubhendu Chatterjee.

Despite Satyajit Ray's significant contributions to cinema, Cannes had a complex relationship with his work. Only Pather Panchali won an award at the festival, specifically Best Human Document in 1956, which Ray could not attend due to financial constraints. It took Ray 26 years to visit Cannes, attending in 1982, an event his son Sandip remembers fondly.

Several of Ray's films, including Paras Pather and Devi, competed for the Palme d'Or but did not win. Film scholar Sanjoy Mukhopadhyay noted that Cannes didn't fully celebrate Ray's films, apart from Pather Panchali, compared to other international festivals. However, Cannes organized special screenings of Ganashatru and Pather Panchali in later years, and the Cannes Classics section has showcased several of his films, including Aranyer Din Ratri, Pather Panchali, Charulata, and Pratidwandi.