They were crying, laughing...: Anupam Kher on crowd's reaction to his directorial film 'Tanvi The Great' at Cannes

ANI May 23, 2025 215 views

Anupam Kher was moved by the Cannes audience's emotional reaction to his film Tanvi The Great. The movie marks his return to directing after two decades and tackles themes of autism and military aspirations. Featuring Karan Tacker's debut and Jackie Shroff in key roles, the film overcame financial struggles to reach international acclaim. It releases on July 18 with Resul Pookutty's award-winning sound design.

"They were crying, laughing at the end of the film. They didn't want to leave." – Anupam Kher
London, May 22: Marathon man Anupam Kher has returned to the director's chair after over two decades with his film Tanvi The Great. The movie had its screening at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival last week and received a warm response from the international audience.

Key Points

1

Kher returns to directing after 20 years with Tanvi The Great

2

Film explores autism and military dreams

3

Features Karan Tacker's big-screen debut

4

Sound design by Oscar winner Resul Pookutty

Speaking to ANI about the reaction at Cannes, Kher said he was "overwhelmed" by how deeply the crowd connected with the film. The actor also shared how people in the theatre clapped, laughed, cried, and stayed back to ask questions after the screening.

"I was very overwhelmed by the reaction of people. They were clapping in between because the theme of the film resonated with them. They were crying, laughing at the end of the film. They didn't want to leave. They were asking questions. It's a beautiful feeling."

When asked what the recognition means to him and his team, especially after the struggles the film faced during its making, Kher said, "The success of the film on an international platform like Cannes and then in London proves that if you do something with conviction against all odds, it is the most gratifying feeling, and it will reach people's hearts. The film was made with great difficulty because people who were supposed to finance the film backed out at the last minute, but then I said, 'I have to make it because it's my conviction.'"

Tanvi The Great follows 21-year-old Tanvi Raina, a woman with autism who discovers her late Indian Army officer father's unfulfilled dream--to stand at Siachen, the world's highest battlefield, and salute the Indian flag. Despite societal pushback and institutional barriers against autistic recruits in the military, she becomes determined to fulfil this mission, according to Variety.

https://x.com/AnupamPKher/status/1918617789709066710

The film also stars Khaki: The Bihar Chapter actor Karan Tacker, who is set to make his big-screen debut after years of working in television and on streaming platforms. Jackie Shroff and Arvind Swamy play crucial roles. Game of Thrones actor Iain Glen is also part of the film.

Tanvi The Great features sound design by Resul Pookutty, the Academy Award-winning sound designer known for Slumdog Millionaire. It is produced by Anupam Kher Studios in collaboration with NFDC.

The film is set to release on July 18.

Reader Comments

R
Rahul P.
So proud to see Indian cinema getting this kind of response at Cannes! Anupam Kher is truly a legend who keeps reinventing himself. The storyline about honoring an army officer's dream through his autistic daughter sounds very emotional. Can't wait to watch this in July! 🇮🇳
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Priya M.
The subject is so unique and inspiring! Representation of differently-abled individuals in mainstream cinema is long overdue. Hope this film creates more awareness about autism in our society. Also great to see Jackie Shroff back in meaningful roles 😊
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Amit K.
While I appreciate the effort, I wish the film wasn't set against military backdrop. Our armed forces have strict medical requirements for good reason. The story could have been equally powerful with another challenging profession. Still, kudos to Kher for bringing an important issue to light.
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Shweta R.
Anupam Kher's passion shines through! The fact that he self-financed when others backed out shows his dedication. Also excited to see Karan Tacker's transition from TV to films - he's a brilliant actor who deserves this break. Booking my tickets already! 🎬
V
Vikram S.
The combination of Resul Pookutty's sound design and Siachen backdrop gives me goosebumps! Hope they've done justice to the harsh realities of the world's highest battlefield. Our soldiers deserve accurate representation in cinema. Jai Hind!
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Neha T.
As someone with an autistic cousin, I'm so happy to see mainstream attention to neurodiversity. But I hope they consulted actual autistic individuals during production. Sometimes well-meaning films end up spreading stereotypes. Fingers crossed they got it right! 🤞

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Tags:
Anupam Kher Tanvi The Great Cannes Film Festival Karan Tacker Jackie Shroff