On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated director Payal Kapadia on her historic achievement at the Cannes Film Festival, where her film “All We Imagine as Light” received the prestigious Grand Prix prize. Kapadia’s achievement is notable because she is the first Indian director to receive this honour. Modi commended her great talent and stated that her achievement would encourage the next generation of Indian filmmakers.
The film won the festival’s second-most prestigious honour. It came after the Palme d’Or, which was presented to American director Sean Baker for “Anora” during the closing ceremony on Saturday night.
Kapadia’s film, which tackles the concept of friendship through the eyes of three different women, made history as the first Indian entry for the Cannes main competition in three decades. In her acceptance speech, Kapadia praised the Cannes Film Festival for the opportunity and emphasised the importance of women supporting one another. She advocated for more representation of Indian cinema at Cannes, as well as better societal inclusivity and empathy.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also complimented Kapadia and the team behind “All We Imagine as Light” on their extraordinary achievement. He emphasised the importance of their victory in promoting Indian talent on a worldwide scale.