On Saturday, filmmaker Payal Kapadia made history by becoming the first Indian to win the prestigious Grand Prix at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, which is the second-highest honor after the Palme d’Or.
Kapadia’s film, “All We Imagine As Light,” is a drama about two Malayali nurses who move to a beautifully depicted Mumbai and navigate life, love, and sisterhood.
Impact on Women and Indie Filmmakers
Sooni Taraporevala, the screenwriter of “Salaam Bombay!” which won the Camera d’Or at the festival in 1988, told CNN that Kapadia’s “unprecedented” win “has personally touched women and those in the indie film space. ”She noted that the victory “has allowed us to dream, hope, and celebrate her with unabashed pride and joy,” adding that India’s independent film scene often feels “hopeless” in an industry “dominated” by mainstream productions.
“All We Imagine As Light” received an eight-minute standing ovation when it premiered at the festival.
The film boldly portrays the romance between Prabha (Kani Kusruti) and her Muslim boyfriend (Hridhu Haroon), highlighting the increasing religious polarization in India.
While India is the largest film-producing country in the world, it still lags behind Hollywood in terms of gaining international recognition and winning major awards.
Payal Kapadia also stated, “The diverse audience in Kerala accepts every genre of cinema, and they distribute even art-house films, which doesn’t happen in the rest of the country.”
Last year, the Telugu-language historical fantasy “RRR” became the country’s first feature film to win an Oscar for Best Original Song. The song “Naatu Naatu” was praised for its catchy beat and vibrant dance moves.
“The Elephant Whisperers,” directed by Indian filmmaker Kartiki Gonsalves, also won the best documentary short prize at the ceremony.
In 1947, filmmaker Chetan Anand won Cannes Film Festival’ top prize for his film “Neecha Nagar,” becoming the only Indian to win that accolade.
Kapadia had previously won the festival’s L’Oeil d’Or award in 2021 for her acclaimed documentary “A Night of Knowing Nothing,” which explores how a film student in India tries to maintain a relationship with her ex despite their different castes.
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