Saikiran Uppuluri
Saikiran Uppuluri
After a three-decade hiatus, Indian cinema is back in the spotlight at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Filmmaker Payal Kapadia’s debut feature “All We Imagine As Light” has been selected to compete for the coveted Palme d’Or award at the festival’s main competition, the first Indian film to do so since 1994.
Kapadia’s inclusion in the prestigious lineup, announced by Cannes Festival President Iris Knobloch and General Delegate Thierry Frémaux, marks a watershed moment for Indian cinema on the global stage. The last Indian film to grace the Cannes main competition was Shaji N. Karun’s “Swaham” in 1994, making Kapadia’s achievement all the more remarkable.
“All We Imagine As Light” will be vying for the top prize alongside highly anticipated works from celebrated auteurs like Francis Ford Coppola and Yorgos Lanthimos. Kapadia’s selection is a testament to her cinematic vision and the growing international recognition of Indian filmmaking talent. The inclusion of another Indian title, Sandhya Suri’s “Santosh” in the Un Certain Regard section, further underscores the country’s burgeoning presence at the world’s most prestigious film festival.
For Indian cinema enthusiasts, Payal Kapadia’s historic triumph at Cannes represents a long-awaited homecoming and a moment of immense pride. As the world turns its attention to the Croisette in May, the spotlight will undoubtedly shine brightly on this young, trailblazing filmmaker, whose work has managed to break India’s 30-year drought at the hallowed grounds of the Cannes Film Festival.
