Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia on Saturday etched her name in cinematic history with her feature debut All We Imagine as Light, winning India its first Grand Prix at the 77th Cannes Film Festival.
Kapadia’s achievement marks a significant milestone, as her film became the first Indian movie in three decades to compete in the festival’s main Competition since Shaji N Karun’s Swaham in 1994.
Additionally, she became the first Indian woman nominated for the prestigious Palme d’Or and the first Indian to clinch the Grand Prix.
Kapadia’s journey to success has been marked by challenges, emblematic of the struggles faced by many independent filmmakers in India.
During her acceptance speech, she highlighted the significance of her win, stating, “This is a triumph for the artist, the student, the political voice, the few who continue to stand up and persevere with their art in an atmosphere that has demonstrated time and time again that it has no patience for it.”
The road to Cannes was not without hurdles for Kapadia.
As a student at Pune’s Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), she encountered opposition and adversity.
Her involvement in a protest against the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as the chairman of FTII led to disciplinary action, including the lodging of an FIR against her and the termination of her grant.
Kapadia was a prominent figure in the 138-day protest at FTII in 2015, where students voiced concerns about Chauhan’s suitability for the prestigious institution’s leadership.
Despite facing repercussions for her activism, Kapadia remained steadfast in her convictions.
After Chauhan’s tenure ended, FTII extended support to Kapadia, recognizing her talent and potential.
In 2017, the institute announced its backing for her short film Afternoon Clouds, which was selected at the 70th Cannes Film Festival.
All We Imagine as Light is a poignant portrayal of the friendship between three women from disparate backgrounds who find solace in each other’s company.
Following Kapadia’s historic win, numerous Bollywood personalities took to social media to congratulate her.
Actors and filmmakers including Kiara Advani, Anurag Kashyap, Radhika Apte, Swara Bhasker, Richa Chadha, Bhumi Pednekar, and Shekhar Kapur praised Kapadia for her remarkable achievement, highlighting the significance of her contribution to Indian cinema.
