Anuparna Roy Creates History, Honoured as Best Director at 82ⁿᵈ Venice Film Festival

For the every first time in Indian Cinematic history, Indian filmaker, Anuparna Roy wins the best director award at the 82nd Venice Film Festival  in the Orizzonti section for her film Songs of Forgotten Trees, a remarkable achievement and brings pride to the nation. The setting of the film Songs of Forgotten Trees is Mumbai, where in a migrant actress rents out her residence to a corporate employee. Beyond simply sharing a room, the two women forge an unexpected bond despite coming from quite different backgrounds. What makes this film even more commendable is that it was the only Indian selection in the prestigious Orizzonti Competition section at the festival.

Support and Challenges in her Journey as a Film Maker

Anuparna Roy, a Purulia-born girl, was inspired by one of her friends in Monpura Village of Bengal as highlighted by The Tines of India. She lacked initial support from her parents, who emphasized that they had known nothing about films. But it was her determination to succeed. Her father, as highlighted by The Indian Express mentioning the financial limitations, remarked about her passion and hard work in making films and that she utilized money for that. "We are proud of her." While once she was not supported and now making not only her parents proud but also her village is a moment that Roy mentions to be of immense joy. While she states other women to be her appreciation, report by Hindustan Times she mentions that it would not have been possible without Mr. Ranjan Singh, Mr. Bibhanshu Rai, Mr. Anurag Kashyap, and Mr. Romil Modi, thus proving another commendable point that gender is secondary and behind a successful woman can be a man, turning the historical societal notion. Their support mattered to her so much that she comments herself to be "a child of Indian Cinema."

Social Media and Appreciation By Chief Minister and Film Industry

Acknowledging her remarkable achievement, West Bengal's Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, while congratulating her on X formerly twitter, praised and wished her, stating, “May Anuparna progress far and bring more glory to us.” A post on X by ScreenInternational says it to be a shout for the Palestinian kids. Actress Alia Bhatt congratulated her, remarking it as a big moment of pride and honor to Indian cinema on her Eternal Sunshine Instagram page. Priyanka Chopra, applauding her for the remarkable achievement, applauds her and wrote "congratulations".

There are sparking debates on social media about the mention of Palestine while Roy delivered her speech at Venice. She mentioned, “It is a responsibility to think for a moment and stand beside Palestine. I might upset my country but it doesn’t matter to me anymore,” as highlighted by VarthaBharati.