The
first
look
of
Nawazuddin
Siddiqui-starrer
"Manto",
a
biographical
film
based
on
Urdu
writer
Saadat
Hasan
Manto,
was
launched
at
the
ongoing
70th
Cannes
Film
Festival.
Directed
by
Nandita
Das,
the
film
features
Nawazuddin
in
the
title
role,
and
actress
Rasika
Dugal
plays
his
wife
Safia.
The
movie
also
features
Rishi
Kapoor,
Swara
Bhasker,
Ranvir
Shorey,
Paresh
Rawal
and
Swanand
Kirkire.
"Manto's
most
defining
works
were
set
during
the
devastating
partition
of
the
Indian
subcontinent;
decades
later,
we
are
still
struggling
to
find
the
freedom
of
expression
and
identity
--
not
just
in
India
but
across
the
world.
His
is
a
story
that
was
relevant
not
only
then,
but
even
more
so
now,"
Nandita
said
in
a
statement.
She
even
shared
some
glimpses
from
the
movie.
Nawazuddin
and
Rasika
are
seen
sporting
simple,
bespectacled
looks
and
bear
resemblance
to
the
real
life
people
that
their
characters
are
based
on.
The
film
had
a
special
showcase
unveiled
by
HP
Studios
for
attendees
here
on
Tuesday.
"We
believe
in
taking
risks
and
finding
narratives
that
strike
a
chord
with
viewers
across
the
globe.
Manto's
stories
were
both
progressive
and
brutally
honest."
"The
portrayal
of
his
life
in
this
film
will
ring
in
the
same
emotions
as
his
work
did.
It's
a
great
time
to
bring
Manto
and
his
world
to
life," Ajit
Andhare,
COO
-
Viacom18
Motion
Pictures,
said.
Over
half
of
"Manto"
has
already
been
shot,
and
the
team
is
likely
to
wrap
up
shooting
by
mid-June.