Finding Home in Payal Kapadia’s Cinema
Dear Readers,
Last week, at a sold-out screening for Payal Kapadia’s "All We Imagine as Light," I found myself at home. I was anticipating this screening for a long time. A storyteller from Mumbai myself, Kapadia’s recent wins have felt like personal victories to me. Despite several opportunities to watch the film before, I waited. I wanted to experience the magic in a theater, in a space I love. And I got the chance to do so—at the Coolidge Corner Theatre, where Kapadia was being presented with a Breakthrough Artist Award.
The wait was worth it. The first frame pulled me in, and for the first time in a long while, I felt like I truly belonged. Sitting inside the Coolidge Corner Theatre, in my current home of Boston, I was transported back to Mumbai, my hometown. I was in this in-between space—between my two havens. Kapadia’s introduction of Mumbai, shared so generously, felt like a secret only we understood, both of us now in Boston far from home.
I kept trying to catch a glimpse of her celebrity. Though Kapadia is now a world-renowned filmmaker, she remained grounded, thanking the sold-out crowd and joyfully acknowledging the privilege of being an independent artist showing in an independent theater.
"All We Imagine as Light" is the film everyone is talking about. It was named the No. 1 film of 2024 by The New York Times, earning accolades like a Grand Prix award at the Cannes Film Festival and Golden Globe nominations. It has been revered by Britain’s Sight and Sound magazine and even landed on Barack Obama’s personal movie list. But despite this, it didn’t immediately capture the Indian audience. The movie was recently released on India's streaming platform Disney+ Hotstar and has since started gaining traction online.
"When it was first released on Sept. 21 in India, nobody went to watch it. But after the Golden Globe nominations, everyone is now talking about it," Kapadia said.
I pondered whether it was the international or Western accolades that prompted a positive response from her home base.
Kapadia humbly credits the visibility to all awards, not just Western ones. "We do not have the budget for marketing," she said. "When we win awards, it increases our visibility." She notes her peers who have won National Awards have similar kinds of post-award successes.
Even though Kapadia lost out at the Globes, her nomination was a big win for Indian cinephiles. India has one of the largest film industries in the world, but its movie industry falls short in international critics' circles. This is not because of a lack of talent but rather a lack of acknowledgment of talent. In an industry that often prioritizes profit over vision, Kapadia’s work shines. Her journey—starting with "Afternoon Clouds" at Cannes to "A Night of Knowing Nothing," which earned critical praise—proves the power of independent storytelling. But in India, Kapadia was largely unknown until the Golden Globes shone a light on her.
The landscape of independent cinema in Mumbai is both bright and difficult. While there are more platforms for art films, the stakes have grown higher. Mainstream cinema still dominates, reluctant to take risks on fresh voices. Even established alternative filmmakers like Anurag Kashyap, of "Gangs of Wasseypur" fame, have expressed frustration, acknowledging that distributing visionary films in India is an increasingly difficult challenge.
"When I was young, my mother and I would go to these cinemas in Mumbai. But nowadays, it is hard to distribute," Kapadia said, reflecting on how independent cinema shaped her talent and her early passion for movies.
Kapadia’s success and celebrity are well deserved, but it’s conflicting to see that without her accolades, many would still overlook her work. Her films offer a fresh perspective—stories that engage, reflect and challenge, leaving us better than we were before.
If you haven’t watched "All We Imagine as Light" yet, do so ASAP. The film captures Mumbai with honesty and tenderness, giving life to a city I know so well. It is not only well directed but captures a beautiful story with passionate characters who will endear themselves to you and make you think of them for many moments after. At its heart, it is a movie about relationships and about love, a topic you know I love. I left the theater laughing, crying and reflecting on the spirit of my home, of love and of womanhood. That’s Kapadia’s brilliance—capturing the essence of a place, a feeling, with such clarity and giving us endearing characters who will capture our hearts and minds for a long time to come.
Yours truly,
Tinderella
