On May 25, 2024, India watched Payal Kapadia bring home the prestigious Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival. What was interesting is that most of us had never heard of her before this point. I recall endlessly refreshing X, waiting for that one announcement because someone from our country had a real chance at winning that distinguished accolade. And she did it.

Cast and Payal with the Cannes Grand Prix Award

Kapadia’s ‘ We Imagine as Light’ wasn’t only selected for Cannes’ main competition; it marked a historic moment with the Grand Prix win. It was also the first Indian film in three decades to compete and win in this esteemed category. With an eight-minute standing ovation at its premiere at the Grand Théâtre Lumière, this film solidified Kapadia’s place among the world’s most promising filmmakers. In a candid conversation with ELLE , Kapadia let us in on her creative process and the story behind this film.

An Ode to Mumbai

We have seen different versions of Mumbai on our screen throughout the years, but not in the way Kapadia has portrayed it. She shows Mumbai as always in flux. The film explores the experiences of female migrants in the city, a perspective rarely seen in mainstream cinema. "Mumbai is a city where people come from everywhere—whether it's someone from a different part of Maharashtra or someone from another state or country," she explains. "It’s always in transition, and that precariousness is central to the way people live here."

Still from the film

The film’s return to Mumbai for its premiere at the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival was another great moment for Kapadia. "The screening at MAMI was lovely. Since the film is set in Mumbai, I think the audience really connected with it on a personal level, bringing their own stories of the city.”

Payal at the 2024 MAMI Mumbai Film Festival

One of my favourite parts of ‘All We Imagine as Light’ was the opening sequence, which Kapadia describes as a ‘city symphony.’ The sounds of Mumbai, with its honking cars, distant voices, and the general hum of life, are intricately woven into the narrative. “I’ve always been interested in blending nonfiction with fiction," she says.

“For a long time, I had been recording the sounds of Mumbai, collecting voices and noises from the city. When I was editing, we found a way to incorporate those recordings, almost like a soundtrack to the city. The opening sequence evokes the feeling of entering the life of the protagonist, Prabha, as she pulls back the curtain and invites us into her world.”

Female Friendships

Kapadia further explores the complexities of women’s lives and the contradictions of being financially independent yet bound by societal pressures and family expectations. “The women in the film are independent in many ways. They make their own financial decisions, send money home, and live away from their families. But even in that independence, there is a sense of constraint. The family plays a big role in shaping their choices, even when they are far away. So, I wanted to explore what independence means when so many forces are still at play in your life.”

Another memorable sequence of the film is where Prabha calls her friend, Anu, a slut in a heated exchange, exposing the internalised misogyny women often experience in their relationships with each other. "It’s something I’ve seen commonly in female friendships—how society sets us up to compete against each other. Sometimes, I’ve let my friends down because of it. So, in a way, this film questions these things. That moment is about how these kinds of attitudes are ingrained in us. But equally showing that these women are trying to unlearn those behaviours and understand each other better."

Payal Kapadia's Cannes Triumph

"I was very surprised but also very happy and grateful," Kapadia shares as she recalls how she felt when the Grand Prix announcement was made. “The jury comprised filmmakers I deeply admire—Mr Korida, Greta Gerwig, Nadine Labaki—people whose work I have followed for years. When they announced the win, it made the moment even more surreal and special."

Kapadia's journey has just begun and she is ready to showcase more powerful stories. The filmmaker is already at work on her next project—a historical fiction story exploring themes of love set in Mumbai.

Also, read: From ‘All We Imagine As Light’ To ‘Anora’, Here Are Our Top 12 Picks From 2024 MAMI Mumbai Film Festival