In a momentous triumph for Indian cinema, filmmaker Payal Kapadia took home the prestigious Grand Prix at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival for her stirring film All We Imagine As Light. This honour, the festival’s second-highest accolade after the Palme d’Or, was awarded during the closing ceremony on May 25, marking the first time in three decades an Indian film has been celebrated in the main competition category.
“Please do not wait another 30 years to have an Indian film,” Kapadia reminded in her winning speech addressing the Cannes jury, which this year featured filmmaker Greta Gerwig and actress Lily Gladstone.
A Historic Moment Indeed
Payal Kapadia’s film, screened on May 23, explores the lives of three ordinary women — Prabha, Anu, and Parvati — in Mumbai, weaving a narrative filled with melancholy and optimism. The film is a luminous rumination on life, love, and sisterhood and resonated deeply with audiences and critics alike. The movie received an eight-minute standing ovation at its premiere, solidifying its place as a standout piece of cinema.
Also read: Malayalam Cinema – From Legacy to Global Stardom
A Truly Significant Win
The win has rippled across the country, with many on social media, notably prominent personalities, commenting on its significance. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Anasuya Sengupta, and Rahul Gandhi among others, expressed appreciation to the filmmaker on X, stating that the country was “proud” of Kapadia’s “historic feat.”
From Kerala to Cannes glory
The icing on the cake or more like a double delight for us Malayalis has to be Kani Kusruti and Divya Prabha. The two women looked ravishing and they danced their way to the screening exuding confidence like confetti on the ramp. Kani Kusruti also grabbed attention with her standout accessory: a watermelon-shaped bag. The bag carried a deeper message, symbolising her solidarity with Palestine, reflecting Kani’s strong political statement through fashion.
What All We Imagine As Light is all about
All We Imagine As Light is a Malayalam-Marathi-Hindi language film that revolves around the life of Prabha, a nurse, who receives an unexpected present from her long-estranged husband, causing her life to tumble. Her younger roommate, Anu, tries in vain to find a private space in the city to spend alone time with her boyfriend. Together, the two take a road trip to a coastal town, where a mythical forest provides a haven for both of their dreams. The film’s portrayal of female friendship as an anchor of unity, inclusion, and acceptance has touched a universal chord and received glowing reviews for its artistic storytelling and engaging cinematography.
Payal Kapadia had previously won the festival’s L’Oeil d’Or prize in 2021 for her critically praised documentary A Night of Knowing Nothing and was appreciated for her unique style, along with the film’s outstanding team of brilliant cinematographers, writers, performers, and technicians. Collaboration among such artists has been crucial in bringing Kapadia’s vision to life.
Government Support & Co-production Efforts
All We Imagine As Light is a co-production between India, France, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, supported by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting under the Indo-French Audio-Visual Treaty. The film benefited from government advantages that included location clearances in Maharashtra and interim financial assistance, highlighting a rising partnership between Indian and international cinema.
Women in Cinema
The underrepresentation of strong female characters in Malayalam cinema has lately become a heated topic of discussion. Despite several commercially successful films, like Manjummel Boys, Bramayugam, and Aavesham, gaining acclaim across the country, they did not have a female protagonist. Often we see filmmakers and actors trying to justify or evade the topic by stating that their storylines did not call for a female protagonist or that it is just coincidental. The reasoning has been questioned because it also reflects a larger societal trend of exclusion of women from key roles.
Also read: Malayalam Movies with Strong Female Characters
Payal Kapadia’s triumph, especially with Malayali actors Kani Kusruti and Divya Prabha shining in leading roles, feels like a big accomplishment for the whole of Kerala. Hopefully, it will also draw attention to the importance and relevance of strong, well-written female characters in Malayalam cinema, a segment critics believe has been underrepresented due to either poor writing or reliance on old formulae.
Payal is also the first Indian female director to participate in Cannes and win the Grand Prix. This feat also parallels the success of Mira Nair’s 1988 Camera d’Or winner Salaam Bombay! and stands as an inspiration for the next generation of Indian filmmakers.
Indian Cinema’s Next Chapter
The success and reception of All We Imagine As Light ought to inspire the industry to prioritise strong, well-written female characters in their narratives while also addressing the incapacity of filmmakers to produce successful stories about women in today’s day and age. The Cannes Film Festival award is a ray of hope for today, reminding us that Indian cinema has the potential to achieve global acclaim through experimenting with varied and intriguing storytelling techniques and raw performances.
Also read: My Issue With The Phrase “Women-Centric” In Wonder Women By Anjali Menon
