After three decades, India’s long-awaited breakthrough at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival finally arrived. On May 25th, 2024, Payal Kapadia, a talented female filmmaker, secured the Grand Prix at the 77th annual Cannes Film Festival for her directorial masterpiece, ‘All We Imagine As Light’. This achievement, the second-highest prize after the Palme d’Or, was a monumental moment for the Indian film industry, marking its first-ever reception of this honour. Payal Kapadia also made history as the first Indian woman to compete and win the leading award at Cannes. This milestone, a testimony to the power of Indian storytelling, will be etched in the annals of Indian cinema for years to come, inspiring a new generation of filmmakers.
Kapadia’s prize-winning movie, ‘All We Imagine As Light,’ is not just a drama centred on two Malayali nurses and their struggles and journeys in life. It’s a powerful narrative that resonated deeply with the audience, evoking vivid emotions and sparking meaningful conversations. The movie was screened at the festival on May 23rd and received an eight-minute standing ovation from the audience, which was a solid proof of its emotional depth and cinematic brilliance. It was a priceless moment for every Indian film enthusiast that will be etched in their hearts forever. In 1994, ‘Swaham,’ a directorial by Shaji N. Karun, was the last movie selected for the festival from India. Now ‘All We Imagine As Light’ has set a new benchmark for Indian cinema once again.
All We Imagine As Light: The Story Of Real Lives
Kapadia’s movie is a Malayalam-Hindi feature film about the life of a nurse, Prabha. The story takes a turn when she receives a letter from her alienated partner, which throws her life in different directions. Parallelly, she develops a strong bond with her roommate, Anu. Anu is another female character in the movie who finds it difficult to spot a private place to spend time with her boyfriend in the busy city. They both find hardships in their personal relationships. Still, the story takes a different turn when they start a road trip to a beach forest. That place filled with magic becomes the accelerator that manifests their dreams into reality.
Payal Kapadia’s historic triumph was met with acclaim and pride nationwide. Esteemed figures from the Indian film industry and beyond showered her with accolades, heralding her win as a moment of national pride.
“Her remarkable talent continues to shine on the global stage, giving a glimpse of the rich creativity in India. This prestigious accolade honours her exceptional skills and inspires a new generation of Indian filmmakers.” Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi Ji wrote about the victory of the film on X.
Kani Kusruthi and Divya Prabha played the lead roles in this film, which was shot over 25 days in Mumbai and Ratnagiri.
