At the Cannes Film Festival this year, the cast of “All We Imagine As Light” captured widespread attention with their spontaneous dance on the red carpet. This moment signalled the start of a triumphant journey for the film, marking the first time in three decades an Indian director’s work competed in the festival, according to actor Chhaya Kadam.
Indeed, the film directed by Payal Kapadia, which explores the lives of two nurses from Mumbai, clinched the Grand Prix, the festival’s second most prestigious award after the Palme d’Or. Overjoyed, Kadam expressed her happiness in a conversation with PTI from Cannes, recalling the unforgettable red carpet dance that has now become a part of Indian cinema’s legacy. Kadam, who shares the lead with Kani Kusruti and Divya Prabha, playfully admitted she might have been the first to start dancing.
Kadam reflected on the moment, noting how their dance was pure joy, drawing others, including photographers, to join in their celebration. She fondly remembered hearing the Marathi tune “Gulabi Saree” as she arrived, feeling overwhelming joy and anticipation for the film’s success.
“All We Imagine As Light,” an Indo-French collaboration, garnered immediate acclaim from the international press following its screening, setting it on a path to victory. The narrative, interweaving Malayalam and Hindi, centres on the turbulent life of Prabha, a Mumbai nurse, after receiving a rice cooker from her estranged husband. The story also delves into the lives of her roommate Anu, who is struggling for privacy in the city, and Parvati, a widow being evicted by developers.
Director Payal Kapadia made history as the first Indian woman to win at Cannes, a platform known for showcasing emerging global talent. Kapadia’s acceptance speech, where she acknowledged the joint effort behind the film, especially highlighted the camaraderie among the three female leads, a sentiment Kadam vividly remembered and cherished.