Manto, a biographical film on controversial Urdu writer Saadat Hasan Manto, made its way to the Un Certain Regard segment of the prestigious 71st Cannes Film Festival. The movie, directed by well-known Indian actress-filmmaker Nandita Das, was screened at the coveted event on Sunday. Naturally, the team including actors Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Huma Qureshi and Divya Dutta is ecstatic.

Lead star Nawazuddin will be seen in and as Manto. The powerhouse performer attended the do in a ravishing Manish Malhotra creation. Nawaz made a summer style statement in  pink blazer and navy blue shirt and pant. Also slaying the red carpet was starlet Huma Qureshi in an ethereal Ali Younes couture. National award winner actress Divya Dutta combined elegance and grace in a Neeta Lulla saree.

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The movie, a historical period drama about Manto, who is known for his writings around the partition of India and Pakistan, is the only Indian film competing in the Un Certain Regard category of the gala, to be held from May 8-19.

Nandita, who has been a jury member at the movie jamboree twice - in 2005 and 2013 -had last year introduced Manto to the Cannes audience via "In Defence of Freedom", a prelude to the feature film. The film also features Tahir Raj Bhasin as Shyam Chaddha, Manto's friend, confidant and inspiration for a number of stories; Rajshri Deshpande as author Ismat Chughtai and veteran actor Rishi Kapoor in a cameo.

The background score is by table maestro Zakir Hussain, with music composed by Sneha Khanwalkar.

The Un Certain Regard is a competition section separate from the Cannes fest's main Palme d'Or competition section. Manto will compete with Bi Gan's "Long Day's Journey into Night", Andrea Bescond and Eric Metayer's "Little Tickles", French-Morrocan director Meye