Rahat Kazmi’s Manstostaan got a standing ovation at a showing in Cannes.

Mantostaan is based on writer Sadat Haasan Manto’s short stories which seek their inspiration from the flames of the Indo-Pak partition.

Actors Raghubir Yadav, Sonal Sehgal, Shoib Nikash Shah, Tariq Khan, Virendra Saxena, Raina Bassnet and Rahat Kazmi star in the film in lead roles.

The film is produced by Rahat Kazmi, Tariq Khan and Aaditya Pratap Singh and co-produced by Zeba Sajid.

Middle Eastern filmmaker Aya Al Blouchi said, “Mantostaan was very daring, as compared to Bollywood films.

"From the rape scenes to the sex scenes to the culling scenes, it is not what you get to watch in mainstream Bollywood. What director Rahat Kazmi chose to film was really mind blowing. I think films should show the reality of society and not hide it.

"The reality of the story, the connectivity, the four different characters and how they connected somehow was very exciting.

"The other thing is that we did not see over the top sets, over the top acting. I think I could meet these people every day.”

British actress Canelle Hope said,. “This haunting feature will stay inside me and the world forever.”

“Mantostaan was one challenging film for director Rahat Kazmi and the entire cast and crew. One shot that still haunts most is when Ishar Singh, essayed by young Shoib Nikash Shah, speaks after his throat is slit.

"The raspy and raucous voice choked me and I felt myself actually feel his life slide softly and slowly draining out of him.”

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Avers French TV and Video Producer Maria Kinga Zielinska added, “I was very very emotional, and crying at the end of the film. It was so touching. And it has been a long time since a film has evoked such response from me.

"The women were also so well-portrayed. I simply loved Mantostaan.”

French film critic Alex Deleon said, “It is beautifully filmed and tells a significant story. The fresh cast and the fresh tackling of the subject made a huge difference.”

Rahat Kazmi said, “The Indo-Pak partition has resulted in the largest mass migration in human history.

"We felt that global audiences will identify with the impact of the pain of the riots which resulted in this retributive genocide between religions.”