Indian Film All We Imagine as Light by Payal Kapadia Shines at Cannes

Payal Kapadia’s debut narrative film, ‘All We Imagine as Light,’ starring Kani Kusruti and Divya Prabha, receives high praise at Cannes.

A Danish drama about an unwanted pregnancy and a portrait of two nurses chasing romance in Mumbai are among the standout films from the world’s pre-eminent film festival. Notably, ‘All We Imagine as Light,’ the first Indian movie to compete at Cannes since 1994, has captured significant attention. Directed by Payal Kapadia, this melancholic, playful, and moving dramedy stars Kani Kusruti and Divya Prabha as two nurses searching for romantic connections in Mumbai.

Kapadia’s narrative intertwines humor and camaraderie with poignant moments of sadness, reminiscent of Satyajit Ray’s classic films like ‘The World of Apu’ and ‘The Big City.’ The film presents a vivid portrayal of small-town individuals who give up parts of themselves as they adapt to urban life.

‘All We Imagine as Light’ opens with scenes of contemporary Mumbai, but instead of showcasing the glamorous lives of Bollywood stars and billionaires, it overlays street images with the voices of real immigrants, the true heartbeat of the city. This is Kapadia’s first narrative feature, and it premiered to an eight-minute-long standing ovation in the main competition section at Cannes.

This film marks a significant milestone for both Kapadia and Indian cinema. At 38, Kapadia now shares the Cannes limelight with legendary directors like Francis Ford Coppola and Yorgos Lanthimos. The film’s reception has been overwhelmingly positive, with The Guardian praising it as a “glorious… absorbing story full of humanity,” and IndieWire lauding its romantic portrayal of Mumbai.

The film follows the lives and struggles of two nurses from Kerala, Prabha (Kani Kusruti) and Anu (Divya Prabha), working in a Mumbai hospital and living together in a small apartment. Prabha’s strained marriage contrasts with Anu’s secret romance with a young Muslim man, Shiaz (Hridhu Haroon), highlighting the challenges of maintaining personal relationships in a bustling, overcrowded city.

Additionally, the narrative explores the impact of urban redevelopment on the characters’ lives. When a third nurse, Parvaty (Chhaya Kadam), is forced to leave due to the redevelopment of a slum, the film delves into the politics of negotiating space in a city bursting at the seams.

Kapadia’s last film, a documentary titled ‘A Night of Knowing Nothing,’ won the top documentary award at Cannes in 2022, and her debut narrative feature continues to echo her commitment to portraying societal struggles and individual resilience.

As ‘All We Imagine as Light’ competes for one of Cannes’ prestigious awards, the film not only brings pride to Indian cinema but also shines a light on the poignant, human stories within Mumbai’s dynamic landscape.