Dinard Jury president Emily Watson praised the mvoie "a new door. It has great simplicity, but great ambition".

Having previously screened to a wondrous critical reception at EIFF2001, the film has established the 29 year-old filmmaker as a future talent.

The USD3.7m Rajput story, shot in appalling conditions in the remote deserts of Rajasthan with daily bouts of Malaria and sun stroke depleting an exhausted cast and crew, the film has already begun to repay those that invested in it.

Understood to be in profit through international pre-sales before being released in a single territory, Miramax has tipped it as a winner by buying up a number of territories including North America.

The Dinard locals were also wowed by the film with queues remaining locked around street corners even after news that the cinema was full.