India shining at Cannes 2024: From Payal Kapadia to Anasuya Sengupta; how Indian women stole the show

It’s not only about India shining, but women of India shining in cinema at Cannes Film Festival 2024. For a long time Indian cinema was not given the respect that they deserved at the international platform. And women in Indian cinema were used as ornaments. But not anymore. With women filmmakers offering women lead roles to female craftsmen, the scene has changed for good.  It’s time to believe in our Indian storytellers, especially our independent artists. Their win is not personal, but a huge triumph for Indian cinema at the global stage.

The journey of Payal Kapadia hasn’t been easy. But she scripted history by becoming the first Indian filmmaker to win the Grand Prix award at the Cannes Film Festival for her film All We Imagine as Light. Anasuya Sengupta, from Kolkata, won Un Certain Regard Prize for Best Actress for her performance in The Shameless. The film, directed and written by Bulgarian filmmaker Konstantin Bojanov, revolves around Renuka, played by Anasuya, who escapes from a Delhi brothel after killing a police officer.

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The Cannes Film Festival 2024 turned out to be the most eventful ever in the history of Indian cinema. Leaving aside as to who wore what and the red carpet infested with influencers promoting brands. It’s time to celebrate cinema. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday congratulated Payal Kapadia for creating history by becoming the first Indian filmmaker to win the Grand Prix award at the Cannes Film Festival for All We Imagine as Light. Her film was the first Indian film in 30 years and first ever by an Indian female director to be showcased in the main competition.

The film won the second-most prestigious prize of the festival, following the Palme d’Or, which was awarded to American director Sean Baker for Anora during the closing ceremony on Saturday night. Kapadia acknowledged the essential contributions of the film’s three leading actresses — Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, and Chhaya Kadam — stating that the film would not have been possible without them. The film delves into the lives of the Kerala nurses.

Payal in her speech at Cannes mentioned, “This film is about friendship, about three very different women. Oftentimes, women are pitted against each other. This is the way our society is designed and it is really unfortunate. But for me, friendship is a very important relationship because it can lead to greater solidarity, inclusivity and empathy.”

Actress Sayani Gupta took to social media to say, “While the media will still be obsessed with who wore what. Let us please as community hone talent. Let there be many Payals. Let there be at least an environment where talent takes precedence over everything. Where makers don’t have to go to foreign grants and foreign producers to make films they want…in a way they want. And dear Producers… please let women tell stories.”

(With added inputs from agencies)