Walking the Cannes red carpet wearing a gaye holuder panjabi

Walking onto one of the red carpets at the Grand Théâtre Lumière of the Festival de Cannes is a rare honour for any journalist. This year, the Arts and Entertainment Editor of the Daily Star, Sadi Mohammad Shahnewaz, made that prestigious journey.

He stood among journalists from global media organisations like The Guardian, The New York Times, Variety and others. He addressed his rare pink press badge, highlighting it as one of the significant recognitions of his career.

Pink press badges are received by high echelons of journalists at Cannes. This level of accreditation sits right after the white badge, which is received by reporters of renowned newspapers and magazines worldwide.

Along with these top-level credentials, Cannes decides who gets to attend or cover the prestigious movie screenings happening at the Grand Théâtre Lumière. This placed Shahnewaz among the top tier of international media professionals attending the festival.

While most attendees wore standard formal outfits, Sadi Mohammad Shahnewaz stood out in a vibrant maroon panjabi during a movie screening on the red carpet at the Grand Théâtre Lumière. He chose to represent his heritage in a way that felt deeply personal.

“This was my gaye holuder panjabi, by the way," Shahnewaz mentioned. "It was the one my friends wore while they were dancing; everyone was given one. It represents a significant event of my life, and since I could not bring my wife with me, I wore it to feel her presence closely,” he recounted.

"Alongside the nostalgia, I did not forget how panjabi is deeply connected with our Bengali identity," he mentioned while discussing the sentimental value of the attire.

The red carpet has some strict dress code regulations for the red carpet. Most attendees are required to follow a specific set of guidelines. Shahnewaz had asked security beforehand if he could wear the traditional outfit.

"I don't think so," they had told him initially.

"That is why I wore the panjabi under my jacket," he exclaimed, flashing a smile, detailing the clever layering he used to bypass the rigid regulations.

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Once he successfully passed through the security checks, he took off the jacket. He then began taking photos in his panjabi, creating a striking visual against the bright red of the iconic carpet.

The reaction from the crowd was almost immediate. Many attendees on the red carpet assumed he was an international celebrity.

"They even took pictures with me," Shahnewaz laughed. His unique look stood out beautifully among the sea of black tuxedos and evening gowns at the festival.

Despite the celebrity treatment, he remained deeply focused on his journalistic mission. He wanted to find human stories that other media outlets might have ignored.

He sought out hidden Bangladeshi stories at the festival that local television channels only discovered much later.

On some occasions, he even prioritised these stories over global cinema events. "To do that story, I had to sacrifice the press conference of Asghar Farhadi, who is one of the world's most well-known directors," Sadi Mohammad Shahnewaz admitted, when discussing his choice to highlight a young Bangladeshi filmmaker over global icons.

He felt immense pride in representing Bangladesh through his work and his appearance. He showed that our local cultural identities have a very significant place at the most famous film festivals in the world. By wearing his wedding gift, he brought a piece of his home and his culture to the heart of France this year.

Photo: Courtesy