In a historic moment for Indian cinema, filmmaker Payal Kapadia has scripted a new chapter by winning the Grand Prix at the 77th Cannes Film Festival for her film ‘All We Imagine As Light’. The film, which was a strong contender for the Palme d’Or, received accolades from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, and prominent figures in the Indian film industry.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi commended Kapadia’s achievement, stating that India takes pride in her historic feat. He highlighted Kapadia’s remarkable talent, nurtured at the Film & Television Institute of India (FTII), and emphasized the impact of her work on the global stage.
India is proud of Payal Kapadia for her historic feat of winning the Grand Prix at the 77th Cannes Film Festival for her work ‘All We Imagine as Light’. An alumnus of FTII, her remarkable talent continues to shine on the global stage, giving a glimpse of the rich creativity in… pic.twitter.com/aMJbsbmNoE
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 26, 2024
Union Minister Anurag Thakur celebrated the win, noting that it marks the first Grand Prix victory for India in 30 years and underscores the nation’s rising prominence in the creative economy.
Many congratulations to FTII alumnus Payal Kapadia for winning the Grand Prix at the 77th Cannes Film Festival for her film All We Imagine as Light. This makes it the first Grand Prix win for the country and a nomination in the Palme d’Or after 30 years.
Bharat’s creative… pic.twitter.com/Ad915hXMZ0
— Anurag Thakur (मोदी का परिवार) (@ianuragthakur) May 26, 2024
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi joined in congratulating Kapadia and the entire team of ‘All We Imagine As Light’, lauding their success on the international stage. The film’s achievement received widespread praise from the Indian film fraternity, with actors Mohanlal and Mammootty expressing their admiration for the accomplishment. Director, lyricist, and writer Varun Grover hailed Kapadia’s win as an “unbelievable day for Indian cinema” and celebrated the representation of Indian women on the global stage.
Indian stars shining bright at the 77th Cannes Film Festival!
Congratulations to Payal Kapadia and the entire team of ‘All We Imagine As Light’ for clinching the prestigious Grand Prix award.
Kudos to Anasuya Sengupta for winning the Best Actress award under the Un Certain… pic.twitter.com/5lRPgdeezI
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 26, 2024
Kapadia’s directorial debut received rave reviews and made history as the first Indian film in three decades and the first by an Indian female director to compete in the main category at Cannes. The film, which premiered at the prestigious festival, showcased the unique storytelling of Payal Kapadia and garnered attention for its compelling narrative.
Anasuya Sengupta’s performance in the film also garnered recognition, with her winning the Best Actress award in the Un Certain Regard section. The film’s cast and crew, including Kani Kusruthi, Divya Prabha, and Chhaya Kadam, were praised for their contributions to the cinematic masterpiece.
Kapadia, an alumna of FTII, previously gained acclaim for her documentary “A Night of Knowing Nothing”, which won the Oeil d’or (Golden Eye) award at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival’s Director’s Fortnight. Her latest triumph with ‘All We Imagine As Light’ reaffirms her status as a pioneering filmmaker and underscores India’s growing influence in the global film industry.
