Ashutosh Gowariker to receive prestigious Medal of St. Tropez for boosting France-India cultural ties

The second edition of NIRVANA Indian Culture & Cinema, to be held from 31 May – 2 June 2024, in the stunning seaside town of Saint Tropez, will once again host Indian filmmakers, movie stars, producers, writers, musicians, artists and dancers with screenings, producer’s round table, book launch, food festival, yoga session and much more. The city of St. Tropez will honour Academy Award-nominated Indian filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker with the ‘Medal of St. Tropez’ for his outstanding contribution to world cinema and screen the film Swades starring Shah Rukh Khan at the second edition of the festival.

Ashutosh Gowariker, an accomplished Indian film director, screenwriter, and producer, and actor has left an indelible mark on the Bollywood landscape with his impactful contributions. Gowariker gained widespread recognition for his directorial debut, Lagaan (2001), which not only garnered critical acclaim but also earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. Later, he directed Jodhaa Akbar (2008) Mohenjo Daro (2016), and Panipat (2019), another set of movies that received accolades for its grandeur and storytelling. His achievements extend beyond directing, as he has also acted in some films in his career, including the recent series Kaala Paani, showcasing his multifaceted talents in the Indian film industry.

Full of gratitude and humility, Ashutosh said, "I want to thank Ms. Sylvie Siri, Mayor of Saint-Tropez, for this honour and I look forward to contributing towards strengthening the bond between the cultural and cinema industries of France and India. Screening Swades at NIRVANA will be an absolute pleasure and I am looking forward to interacting with all the cinema enthusiasts in the beautiful city of Saint-Tropez. "

Parched, directed by Leena Yadav, and 2018 (India’s entry at the Oscars 2023) directed by Jude Anthany Joseph, are part of the festival's official program.

In its first edition, held from 27-29 May 2024, NIRVANA screened, the international version of Indian filmmakers Ketan Mehta’s The Rising (Director’s Cut), Pan Nalin’s Chhello Show (India’s entry at the Oscars 2022), Rima Das’s Village Rockstars, Shubhashish Bhutiani’s Hotel Salvation, Rajat Kapoor’s RK/ RKAY  and Nathalia Syam’s Footprints On Water. Dhoad – the Gypsies of Rajasthan and Folkloric festival of the Bravades by Lou Rampèu de Sant Troupès did a special performance in Saint Tropez. There was also an introduction to Yoga by Praveen Bisht and a Culinary exhibition of Indian Cuisine. Author Dr. Bhuvan Lall’s book India on the World Stage was launched during the festival. Indian filmmakers Deepa Sahi, Surina Narula, and Sanjay Bhutiani were the speakers at the Roundtable on Indo-French Cinema – the Future is Now. His Excellency Mr. Javed Ashraf, Indian Ambassador to France was the chief guest at the First Edition of the Festival.

Ms. Sylvie Siri, Mayor of Saint-Tropez, Regional Councilor said, “With our second edition of NIRVANA we wish to further strengthen the bond between the cultural and cinema industries of France and India. In this partnership with India, we have put all our energies into promoting our city of Saint-Tropez as the foremost choice for Indians for filmmaking, travel, family holidays, and as a marriage destination.”

Mark your calendar for the second edition of NIRVANA Festival de la Culture et du Cinema Indiens 31 May – 2 June 2024.

Also Read: Ashutosh Gowariker reveals that originally, Aamir Khan-starrer Lagaan was set in 1885: “I felt it would be nice to have the birth of Indian National Congress and rise of Bhuvan as a hero”