Anurag Kashyap’s Ugly was screened at Cannes 2013 as part of the Directors Fortnight, a sidebar to the main competition. After its premiere on Friday, the film received extreme reviews from the critics present there. Ugly is a fast-paced psychological thriller that has been inspired by real events in the city of Mumbai. It’s a sensitive film that deals with issues like child trafficking and prostitution.

Twitchfilm’s Brian Clark considered it better than some of competition films whereas Screen International’s Lee Marshall found its characters “hastily-sketched”. Screen International’s Lee Marshall quotess “Ugly could benefit commercially from Kashyap’s rising star, and follow Gangs into late-night and specialised theatrical slots.” The Hollywood Repoter’s Deborah Young who had raved Gangs of Wasseypur last year wasn’t pleased with Ugly either while Italian publication Filmtv.it’s Allan Smithee has given the film 4 stars.

Anurag Kashyap is also involved as a producer of two other films, namely ‘Monsoon Shootout’ and ‘Lunch Box’ that have been selected at Cannes 2013. Addressing to the full house audience at Cannes, Kashyap says that the success of his films doesn’t entirely depend upon him but it’s a collective effort of the whole team to bring recognition at such a global level.

It is Anurag Kashyap’s second consecutive visit to Cannes this year. Last year also, his five-hour long gangster epic titled Gangs Of Wasseypur was enthusiastically received there. As announced by the French Embassy, he will be conferred the top French cultural honour, Chevalier dans l’ordre des Arts et Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) on May 20.