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www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know News India Times (May 9, 2026 - May 15, 2026) May 15, 2026 16 Entertainment Filmmaker John Abraham’s Malayalam Cult Classic ‘Amma Ariyan’ Selected As India’s Sole Entry For Cannes Premiere F ilm Heritage Foundation is all set to return to the Cannes Film Fes- tival for the fifth consecutive year, with the 4K restoration of late filmmaker John Abraham’s ‘Amma Ariyan’ (Report to Mother, 1986). The cult Malayalammasterpiece is the only Indian feature film to be selected this year for a world premiere at the prestigious festival, marking a momentous occasion for the Indian film and entertainment industry. “Set against the political turbulence of 1970s Kerala, it follows Purushan, who sets out to inform a mother of her son’s death, gathering compan- ions along the way in a journey that becomes both personal and political. Blending documentary and fiction through a non-linear narrative, the film unfolds as a letter from a son to his mother- an intimate and expansive meditation on memory, ideology and resistance,” read the official logline, as per the press release. Widely regarded as one of the most radical voices in Indian cinema, John Abraham defied conventional storytell- ing, polished aesthetics and commercial frameworks to create films that were raw, collective and politically charged. In 2001, the British Film Institute included the film in its list of the ten greatest Indian films of all time. Writer K.M. Seethi aptly described Abraham’s vision: “John Abraham belonged to a rare breed for whom cinema was not just an art, but a public act of resistance, thought and love,” as per a press release. Film Heritage Foundation’s previous restorations, such as ‘Thamp’ (Aravin- dan Govindan), ‘Ishanou’ (Aribam Syam Sharma), ‘Manthan’ (Shyam Benegal), ‘Aranyer Din Ratri’ (Satyajit Ray) and ‘Ge- henu Lamai’ (Sumitra Peries) have all had red-carpet world premieres at Cannes between 2022 and 2025. Meawhile, the film will be presented at Cannes by Shivendra Singh Dungar- pur (Director, Film Heritage Founda- tion), Joy Mathew (lead actor), Venu ISC (cinematographer) and Bina Paul (editor). According to the press release, ‘Amma Ariyan’ (Report to Mother) was the iconoclastic filmmaker John Abra- ham’s final work of just four films that he directed before his untimely death in 1987 at the age of 49. Deeply opposed to cinema driven purely by profit, he envisioned ‘Amma Ariyan’ as a film by the people and for the people. It was produced by the Odessa Collective, a group of film enthusiasts co-founded by Abraham, who sought to break free frommainstream production and distribution systems. In a radical experiment, members of the Collective travelled from village to village beat- ing drums, performing street plays and screening films to raise funds directly from the public. The film was not intended for conven- tional theatrical release but for a travel- ling cinema model that brought it back to the communities that made it possible. Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, Director, Film Heritage Foundation, states, “The selection of Film Heritage Foundation’s restoration of John Abraham’s ‘Amma Ari- yan’ for a world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival is a strong validation of the work we’ve been doing. This marks our fifth consecutive year at Cannes with a restored film. This year, we’ve brought back a rare gem of Indian cinema that was in danger of being lost. With no origi- nal camera negative and only a single surviving, unsubtitled print, the restora- tion was particularly challenging.” Actor Joy Mathew, who played a lead- ing role in the film, states, “I’m immense- ly pleased that John Abraham’s ‘Amma Ariyan’, made over 40 years ago, is being showcased at the Cannes Film Festival this year. The filmmarked my first lead role, making this recognition especially meaningful. Initially overlooked and sometimes dismissed by critics, the film’s revival is due to the meticulous restora- tion led by Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, whose commitment of time and resourc- es has made its Cannes screening pos- sible. My association with John Abraham was both personal and professional as we spent nearly three years making the film, and I also voiced multiple characters. I remain deeply appreciative of Film Heri- tage Foundation’s restoration efforts in bringing ‘Amma Ariyan’ to new audiences worldwide.” - ANI PHOTO: ANI P riyanka Chopra and Orlando Bloom are set to headline ‘Reset’, a new survival thriller from director Matt Smukler. As per Deadline, the film is scheduled to begin production in August, with Fortitude Interna- tional launching international sales at the Marche du Film in Cannes. Written by Jordan Rawlins, ‘Reset’ follows a woman played by Chopra who wakes up in the middle of the wilderness, far from civilisation, with no memory of how she got there. Her only chance of survival lies in trusting a mysterious stranger, played by Bloom, who may not be telling the truth about his identity. Speaking about casting the lead pair, Smukler said, “I was looking for a pairing where attraction and mis- trust could effortlessly coexist. Priyanka and Orlando have this uncanny ability to make you believe both at once. Their chemistry is undeniable,” as quoted by Deadline. The project will be produced by Jon Hoeber and Erich Hoeber under their Fratricidal Films banner, Michael Lazarovitch for Chemically Altered, and Mat- thew Rhodes of Rhodes Entertainment. Chopra’s Purple Pebble Pictures and Bloom’s Amazing Owl are also backing the film. Nadine de Barros will serve as executive producer, ac- cording to Deadline. Fortitude International is financing the film and handling international sales, while Verve Ventures, UTA, andWME Independent are co-repping North American rights. Producers Jon and Erich Hoeber said, “Jordan Raw- lins and Matt Smukler have created a gripping story of survival, romance, suspense, and deceit, replete with shocking twists, and we’re thrilled to have partnered with Priyanka and Orlando to bring it to the screen,” as quoted by Deadline. Priyanka Chopra recently led and produced ‘The Bluff’, which debuted at number one on Prime Video worldwide. She also starred alongside Idris Elba and John Cena in ‘Heads of State’. Her previous credits include Netflix’s Oscar-nominated ‘TheWhite Tiger’, while her production banner Purple Pebble Pictures backed the Oscar-nominated short ‘Anuja’ and docu- mentary ‘To Kill a Tiger’. Season 2 of ‘Citadel’, in which she plays a crucial role, was released on Prime Video on May 4. She will be next seen in ‘Varanasi,’ an action-ad- venture film from SS Rajamouli. ‘Bloom’ most recently received acclaim for his performance in ‘The Cut’, which he also produced through ‘Amazing Owl’. He was also seen in the action comedy ‘Deep Cov- er,’ which earned a Critics’ Choice Television Awards nomination for Best Movie Made for Television. His upcoming projects includeWerner Herzog’s ‘Bucking Fastard’, co-starring Rooney Mara and Kate Mara. Smukler, an Emmy-nominated filmmaker, is known for projects including ‘Finders Keepers’ and ‘Wildflower’. - ANI Priyanka Chopra, Orlando Bloom To Star In Survival Thriller ‘Reset’ PHOTO: ANI