&imwidth=800&imheight=600&format=webp&quality=medium "Cannes Film Festival 2026: Restored 4K version of Malayalam classic Amma Ariyan receives standing ovation")
The Malayalam cult classic Amma Ariyan, which was released in 1986 and directed by John Abraham, made history as the only Indian feature film selected for a world premiere in the Cannes Classics section. The restored 4K format version has received a standing ovation at the prestigious film festival.
Amma Ariya draws standing ovation at Cannes 2026
The Film Heritage Foundation (FHF), which had contributed to the restoration, celebrated its fifth
consecutive year at Cannes by presenting a restored film. Taking to its Instagram account, FHF shared photos from the screening and wrote, "A full house for FHF's restoration of John Abraham’s cult Malayalam film ‘Amma Ariyan’ (Report to Mother, 1986) last evening at the Cannes Film Festival 2026!! The film was screened to a full house and was introduced by Thierry Fremaux, Director of the Cannes Film Festival; FHF Director Shivendra Singh Dungarpur; lead actor Joy Mathew; and editor Bina Paul. Shivendra Singh Dungarpur spoke about John Abraham’s legacy as an inspirational filmmaker, while Joy Mathew and Bina Paul reminisced about the making of the pathbreaking film and working with the iconoclastic filmmaker."
The caption further read, "Four decades after it was made, the film that was never released commercially got a standing ovation at Cannes. 'Amma Ariyan' is the only Indian feature film to be selected this year for a world premiere at the prestigious festival."
Trending Stories
)
Xi Jinping's new AI bloc: China launches 'World AI Body' with Pakistan and Russia in, India out
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
FIFA World Cup 2026: 5 football stars who went viral on social media during the tournament
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the S-400 uses solid rocket fuel instead of liquid fuel
)
Karoline Leavitt to be US Vice President when Usha Vance gives birth? JD Vance says...
)
Japan is selling a refrigerator to cool the human body for Rs 9 lakh. It is already a hit in Tokyo
)
Sonam Wangchuk's connection with George Soros and Ford Foundation explained!
)
FACT CHECK: Was Abhijit Dipke detained during CJP's Parliament march? Here's what police say
)
'There is no need for...': PM Modi takes a veiled dig at Rahul Gandhi, sends big message amid Parliament March
)
'Could be bombed at any moment': What Iran's Araghchi told Trump envoy Witkoff during negotiations
)
Salman Khan breaks silence on health concerns after viral Mumbai appearance
)
'George Soros playbook': Understanding the foreign funding network around Sonam Wangchuk
)
Indus treaty can no longer function in its current form, says India; plans 5,500 mw of new J&K hydro projects
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New OTT releases this week (July 20-26, 2026): Musafir Cafe, Adarsh Baal Vidyalaya, 72 Hours- 5 new titles coming on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
Maha CM Wife Amruta Fadnavis' Yoga Day appearance sparks social media debate over attire | Watch
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
2026 FIFA World Cup awards: Full list of Golden Boot, Golden Ball, Golden Glove and every major winner
)
JD and Usha Vance welcome fourth child: Who serves as acting US vice president during Vance's paternity leave?
)
Heavy sanctions loom over Argentine players after ugly brawl following final whistle in World Cup final
)
Older than Himalayas: 85mn-year-old Kewra plant reached India 24mn years ago, fossil discovery in Assam shows
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
FIFA World Cup 2026 awards race: Who are Golden Boot, Golden Ball and Golden Glove contenders ahead of the final
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Global air power ranking 2026: India surpasses China
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why US fighter jets use seamless bubble canopies compared to Russian jets
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the F-22’s cockpit glass is thicker than a standard fighter jet
)
Student union leaders call off hunger strike at Jantar Mantar after civil society appeal, but protest continues
)
Tulsi Gabbard's brother Batarti accused of luring children to hotel room in Hawaii
)
'Chalo Sansad' march today: Section 163 in force, Delhi Police remove barricades; unfazed Dharmendra Pradhan meets NEET topper
)
US strikes Iran, sirens heard in Kuwait, one American soldier killed in Iraq: What's happening in West Asia
)
Imran Khan's sister links India-Pakistan 2025 conflict to Israel recognition plans
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the F-22’s tail fins are canted to minimize its radar footprint
)
Argentina's racism problem: How football chants reflect a deeper historical legacy
)
'What is wrong...': Anna Hazare breaks silence on Sonam Wangchuk's protest, makes an appeal to Centre
In another post they shared a clip after the screening of the film and receiving a standing ovation. The caption read, “A standing ovation at the world premiere of FHF's restoration of John Abraham’s “Amma Ariyan” (Report to Mother, 1986) last evening at the Cannes Film Festival 2026!! Four decades after it was made, the film that was never released commercially got a standing ovation at Cannes. 'Amma Ariyan' is the only Indian feature film to be selected this year for a world premiere at the prestigious festival.”
All about Amma Ariyan
Amma Ariyan is produced entirely through public contributions by the legendary Odessa Collective. The film follows a group of young men who travel across Kerala to inform a grieving mother of her son’s death.
Reports state that the Odessa Collective (formed by John Abraham and his friends) travelled from village to village to finance the movie. Funds were raised by staging street plays and collecting voluntary public contributions (often as small as ₹2 to ₹50). The film was the only South Indian film to feature on the British Film Institute's Top 10 Indian Films list.
