Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light made history at the Cannes Film Festival by becoming the first Indian film in competition in 30 years. This significant milestone for Indian cinema was celebrated with an overwhelming eight-minute standing ovation during its world premiere on Thursday, making it one of the longest ovations at this year’s festival.
The film’s debut not only showcased Payal Kapadia as a strong contender for the prestigious Palme d’Or but also scripted history as the first female Indian filmmaker to have a movie in the Cannes competition. This achievement comes after a long hiatus of three decades since an Indian production graced the Cannes competition.
Expressing her pride and excitement, Payal highlighted the diversity and richness of Indian cinema beyond Bollywood. She remarked, “Bharat is a country that makes a lot of good films. Not just Bollywood but every State has its industry and there are absolutely brilliant filmmakers.”
The cast and crew of All We Imagine As Light added to the jubilant atmosphere at Cannes, with a vibrant display of joy and enthusiasm on the red carpet. Their energetic dance moves and infectious smiles captivated the attention of onlookers, setting a celebratory tone for the film’s premiere.
The film features a stellar cast, including Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, Chhaya Kadam, and Hridhu Haroon, promising a unique cinematic experience. Kapadia’s inclusion in this year’s Cannes competition places her alongside esteemed directors such as Jacques Audiard, Yorgos Lanthimos, and David Cronenberg.
Kapadia is competing against veteran filmmakers like Francis Ford Coppola, Paul Schrader, Ali Abbasi, and Sean Baker. An alumna of the Film and Television Institute of India or FTII, she previously won the Golden Eye award for Best Documentary at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival for A Night of Knowing Nothing.
Critics have praised All We Imagine As Light for its innovative storytelling and emotional depth. Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian highlighted the film’s unique qualities, comparing Kapadia’s work to the legendary Satyajit Ray and noting its fluency and absorbing nature.
“There is a freshness and emotional clarity in Payal Kapadia’s Cannes competition selection, an enriching humanity and gentleness which coexist with fervent, languorous eroticism and finally something epiphanic in the later scenes and mysterious final moments. Kapadia’s storytelling has something of Satyajit Ray’s The Big City and Days and Nights of the Forest; it is so fluent and absorbing,” Bradshaw wrote, rating the film five out of five stars.
Sophie Monk-Kaufman of IndieWire described All We Imagine As Light as a “sensual triumph,” praising the film’s “gorgeous and absorbing” portrayal of everyday life.
“This casual everyday vignette is brimming with a sensuality (the rain, the clothes, the food, the women) that people don’t tend to notice when caught up in the rhythm of life. It takes a snapshot from a photographer removed from the situation to make you realize how full these moments are,” Monk-Kaufman wrote.
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Prior to the screening, the cast of All We Imagine As Light made a splash on the red carpet. Kani Kusruti stood out with a watermelon-themed clutch, while Divya Prabha exuded elegance in a copper-hued gown. Hridu Haroon opted for a traditional veshti and embellished kurta. Kapadia and her co-producer-and-cinematographer, Ranabir Das, chose classic black attire, adding to the film’s sophisticated presence at Cannes.
