Payal Kapadia (second from left), winner of the Grand Prix for ‘All We Imagine As Light’, poses with actresses Divya Prabha, Chaya Kadam and Kani Kusruti at the 77th International Film Festival, Cannes, Southern France, Saturday, May 25, 2024. | Photo credit: AP
We all imagine ourselves as light Actress Kani Kusruti says the “incredible” Grand Prix win of Payal Kapadia’s film at the Cannes Film Festival is a credit not just to its cast and crew but also to many women in India who never got the opportunity to showcase their talent on a global stage.
Last Saturday, Kapadia became the first Indian filmmaker to win the Grand Prix, the second highest honour at Cannes. We all imagine ourselves as light, American director Sean Baker Anora Won the Palme d’Or, the top prize at the 77th Film Festival.
We all imagine ourselves as light It was already in the news for being the first Indian film to make it to the main competition of the European gala in 30 years; the previous one was Shaji N Karun’s 1994 Malayalam film Swaham,
There were tears of joy in her eyes at that time and Kusruti said that she was happy because Kapadia really deserved it.
“It felt unreal… the feeling that it was historic for her to get the Grand Prix… I was extremely happy at that time. I almost couldn’t believe it happened. On stage, I thought it was Payal’s victory, but at the same time I remembered all those women who never got the opportunity to showcase their talent, who we never recognised in life,” Kusruti said. PTI in an interview.
The actress said, “I felt like this is for all the women in India who couldn’t come on this platform.”
The Malayalam-Hindi film Kusruthi is based on the story of a Mumbai nurse named Prabha, whose life turns upside down when she receives a rice cooker from her estranged husband.
Divya Prabha plays Anu, her roommate and colleague who is struggling to find a private place in the city to spend time with her boyfriend. Prabha’s best friend Parvati (Kadam), a widow, is thrown out of her house by property developers.
When asked if the Cannes win would make any change in her life or career, Kusruti, 38, said, “I don’t think there will be any change in my career and there should not be such a change in an actor’s life.” She is known for the 2020 award-winning Malayalam film Biryani and web series Queen And poacherKusruthi had to return back to Kochi from Cannes soon after the awards ceremony as she had to start shooting for a Malayalam web series. eyes With Manu Ashokan.
She said, “I wanted to spend a day or two more with the team. I really wanted to spread the happiness, so I miss them a lot. I am waiting for Divya to come back to Kochi and spend some time with her.”
From an eight-minute standing ovation following its screening at Cannes to rave reviews in the international press, We all imagine ourselves as light No other film from India in recent times has achieved the kind of success at this festival.
Also read:Oscar winner Resul Pookutty praises Payal Kapadia’s Cannes win: ‘Mainstream Indian film industry had nothing to do with it’
The actor said the film appealed to audiences mainly in France and around the world because cinephiles “want all kinds of expressions” at such international festivals.
“The characters in the film go through emotions that are very personal but also connect with every person in the world. Film audiences who want to see all kinds of films at festivals will naturally connect with it.” According to Kusruti, Kapadia’s script was “poetic, gentle, subtle but very touching”. She also credited cinematographer Ranbir Das and film editor Clément Pinteux for their work.
