Indian Filmmaker Payal Kapadia Makes History

Filmmaker Payal Kapadia made history on Saturday by becoming the first Indian to win the prestigious Grand Prix at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, the second highest prize after the Palme d’Or. Kapadia’s winning film, “All We Imagine As Light,” is a poignant drama about two Malayali nurses navigating life, love, and sisterhood in a beautifully-shot Mumbai. This achievement marks the first time in three decades that an Indian movie has competed in Cannes’ main competition.

Img source:-New Indian Express

In her acceptance speech, Kapadia expressed her amazement at the honor, stating, “It was already a dream to be selected in competition and this was beyond my imagination.” Her victory has resonated widely in India, with many, including top politicians, celebrating the milestone on social media.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Kapadia on X (formerly Twitter), stating that the nation was “proud” of her “historic feat.” Kapadia is no stranger to Cannes success; she previously won the festival’s L’Oeil d’Or award in 2021 for her documentary “A Night of Knowing Nothing,” which explores the challenges of a film student maintaining a relationship across caste divides in India.

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