Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Immersive Competition in Cannes to showcase a South Asian female superhero

The Cannes Film Festival opens today on Tuesday.

Immersive Competition in Cannes to showcase a South Asian female superhero

A superhero film at the CannesFilm Festival? It is not what you think.

Maya: The Birth of a Superhero, a staunchly feminist playable artwork with a pronounced South Asian accent, is a 30-minute virtual reality (VR) piece. It is in contention for the Best Immersive Work prize in a competition introduced by the festival this year.


The Immersive Competition at the 77th Cannes Film Festival (May 14 to 25) "aims to spotlight the next generation of international artists who are redefining storytelling and inventing new narrative-driven experiences that move beyond the traditional two-dimensional cinema screen."

Maya: The Birth of a Superhero, created by UK-based interdisciplinary artist-activist Poulomi Basu, does that and more. It tells the story of an ordinary 21st-century girl who, as her sexuality awakens, transforms into a female superhero powered by the process of menstruation.

The protagonist is faced with the challenge of overcoming her own shame, fear, and society's restrictive practices to find her inner strength and her true superpower.

"Maya: The Birth of a Superhero decolonises the superhero convention, and represents a South Asian character with power and agency," she said.

Basu directed the project with longtime collaborator C.J. Clarke, who is a photographer and filmmaker, and wrote it with him and actor-writer Manjeet Mann.

"She uses her South Asian futurism, wisdoms, and philosophies to heal the societies here. Maya is above all a story of her journey to empowerment," she said.

Basu was inspired to make Maya: The Birth of a Superhero after the law-changing impact of her previous art project 'Blood Speaks' about menstrual exile and violence against women in South Asia.

Described by the Guardian as "part superhero satire, part psychological thriller", Maya, which world premiered at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival, Austin, US, in March, employs an extreme story to illustrate the prevalence of misogyny and gender oppression in all societies.

About what she expects from the work's European premiere at Cannes, Basu said: "It's really visibility for the work and for the taboo subjects that it portrays."

"The project is also aimed at reminding women that they are magical powerful beings capable of reclaiming their narratives and their bodies to achieve true liberation, justice, and joy. The festival platform is important to highlight that intersectional feminism is for everyone, not just for women," she added.

"It is critical," Basu continued, "to show this work in a Western space because Maya is about a South Asian girl in London battling patriarchy in the West."

Growing up in Kolkata, Basu had first-hand brushes with patriarchy within her home. Raised by her mother, she found early inspiration in the city's rich cinematic history but, following the untimely death of her father, she left home to lead a life that would allow her the choices that earlier generations of women in the family did not have.

The character of Maya is voiced by Indian-British actor Charithra Chandran, who played Edwina Sharma in the second season of the hit Netflix series "Bridgerton". Indira Varma (who debuted in Mira Nair's Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love and was more recently seen in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One) has voiced an illusory past avatar of Maya.

Basu revealed that the immersive film will have a worldwide release via Meta Oculus Quest on May 30.

"People with Oculus can watch it for free for a year all over the world," she said. It can be experienced with Oculus Quest headsets 2, 3 and Pro.

"Outside of this, we will do more film festivals and are open to displays and installations in art spaces," she added.

The Cannes Film Festival opens on Tuesday.

More For You

Naga Chaitanya reacts to a fan saying he can’t act – Here’s what he had to say!

Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi share a fun moment during their Thandel promotions, leaving fans entertained with their candid interactions

Instagram/chayakkineni

Naga Chaitanya reacts to a fan saying he can’t act – Here’s what he had to say!

Naga Chaitanya, known for his charm and candidness, recently found himself in the spotlight during a fun Q&A session with his Thandel co-star Sai Pallavi. The actor, who is gearing up for the release of his upcoming film, faced a cheeky question from a fan that left everyone laughing.

When Sai Pallavi read out a fan’s question, “Acting epudu nerchukuntav? (When will you learn acting?)” Chaitanya appeared stunned for a brief moment, staring blankly at the camera as if processing the unexpected question. He then responded with a mix of surprise and humour, Epudu nerchukuntav enti? (What do you mean, when will I learn?)”


Instead of getting defensive, the Thandelstar took it in stride and responded with a smile: "Honestly, acting is a continuous process. You never fully learn it; you keep growing with every project. If you think you’ve mastered it, that’s when you stop progressing. So, I’m still learning every single day."

While some appreciated his humility, others found the moment hilarious. Social media was soon buzzing with reactions, with many praising Chaitanya for handling the question with grace rather than taking offence. Some fans even tagged the person who originally asked the question, letting them know their comment had made its way to the actor.

This isn’t the first time Chaitanya has addressed criticism. In a recent interview, he opened up about dealing with trolls, admitting that while it bothered him early in his career, he has learnt to ignore the noise. “Clarifying things only leads to more drama. It’s a vicious cycle,” he said, adding that he now focuses on his work rather than responding to negativity.

Chaitanya’s upcoming film, Thandel, marks his third collaboration with director Chandoo Mondeti and his second pairing with Sai Pallavi after their hit film Love story. The survival drama, set to release on February 7, has already generated buzz, with fans eagerly waiting to see the duo’s chemistry on screen once again.

Having faced a mixed bag of box office results in recent years, Thandel is a crucial release for Chaitanya. Fans are eager to see if this film will mark a new chapter in his career and whether his continuous learning process pays off on the big screen.

'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' revival confirmed: Sarah Michelle Gellar returns for a new era

Sarah Michelle Gellar returns to the Buffyverse as a mentor in the upcoming revival of Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Getty Images

'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' revival confirmed: Sarah Michelle Gellar returns for a new era

Sarah Michelle Gellar has finally answered the call of Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans and it’s about time. After years of “will they, won’t they” rumours, she’s confirmed that a revival is officially happening. “I’ve always heard the fans,” she said, making it clear she wouldn’t come back unless it felt right. Now, with a fresh twist on the Slayer story and a killer creative team, the project is moving forward, and fans are already dusting off their stakes in excitement.

The idea for the revival started three years ago when producer Gail Berman set up what was supposed to be a quick coffee chat between Gellar and Oscar-winning director Chloé Zhao. What was meant to be 20 minutes turned into a four-hour conversation about Buffy’s legacy and why it still matters. At first, Gellar wasn’t sold on the idea, but as talks continued with Zhao and writers Nora and Lilla Zuckerman, she started to see the potential.

Keep ReadingShow less
Netflix raises UK subscription prices

Netflix raises UK subscription prices, leaving many users questioning its value

iStock

Netflix prices are rising again – Why it’s happening and the best budget-friendly alternatives!

Netflix subscribers in the UK will once again pay more as the streaming giant quietly rolls out its latest price hike. The updated pricing structure affects both new and existing users, following similar increases in the US and other countries. While Netflix continues to dominate the streaming market, the rising costs leave many wondering if the service still offers the best value for money.

New Netflix Prices in the UK

  • Standard Plan : Now costs £12.99 per month, an increase of £2.
  • Premium Plan : Increased by £1, now priced at £18.99 per month.
  • Ad-Supported Plan : Now costs £5.99, up by £1.
  • Extra Member Add-on : Increased from £4.99 to £5.99.
  • Ad-Supported Extra Member : Increased from £3.99 to £4.99.
The changes are already in effect for new users, while existing subscribers will see the higher fees in their next billing cycle. Netflix has assured that customers will receive an email notification before the price increase takes effect.



Why is Netflix Raising Prices Again?
Netflix says the price hike is necessary to invest in high-quality content. A spokesperson for the company stated, "As we continue to invest in programming and deliver more value for our members, we will occasionally ask them to pay a little more so that we can reinvest to further improve Netflix."

Keep ReadingShow less
After Squid Game S2, these K-dramas are set to take over the world

K-dramas continue to dominate global entertainment, with new hits on the horizon after the success of Squid Game

Instagram

After Squid Game S2, these K-dramas are set to take over the world

In a world where entertainment often feels like a revolving door of reboots and remakes, Korean dramas aka K-dramas have emerged as a breath of fresh air, in fact, irresistibly addictive air. What started as a regional fascination has now exploded into a global phenomenon, with shows like Squid Game and The Glory not just breaking records but boundaries as well. And now, in 2025, the highly anticipated Squid Game Season 3 is set to conclude the saga, with creator Hwang Dong-hyuk teasing a “crazy, crazy, crazy” finale.

But while Squid Game may have kicked open the doors, K-dramas have certainly wasted no time in breaking genre moulds, with new releases just proving the industry’s ability to just evolve and dominate.

Keep ReadingShow less
Ed Sheeran and AR Rahman’s 'Shape of You*Urvashi' performance at Chennai concert goes viral

Ed Sheeran and A.R. Rahman create magic on stage in Chennai, blending Shape of You with Urvashi Urvashi in a viral moment

Instagram/teddysphotos

Ed Sheeran and AR Rahman’s 'Shape of You*Urvashi' performance at Chennai concert goes viral

Ed Sheeran’s concert in Chennai turned into an unforgettable night when he surprised the crowd by bringing legendary composer A.R. Rahman on stage. The unexpected collaboration sent fans into a complete frenzy as the two global music icons merged Sheeran’s hit Shape of You with Rahman’s classic Urvashi Urvashi.

As Sheeran played the melody on his guitar, Rahman joined in with the iconic Urvashi chorus, creating an electrifying fusion of Western pop and Indian musical nostalgia. The energy in the crowd was charged, with fans singing along to the mashup. Despite some microphone issues affecting Rahman’s vocals, the iconic duo managed to keep the audience engaged. Sheeran then took over parts of the performance while the composer continued vocalizing Urvashi Urvashi.

Keep ReadingShow less