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It is wonderful to read about India’s participation at the 77th Cannes Film Festival. India’s film industry, known as Bollywood has been making films for ages, and it has created an impact at the global level. Indian stars are very popular worldwide be it Shah Rukh Khan or Salman Khan. (“It’s India’s year at 77th edition of Cannes Film Festival,” May 10, 2024, Gulf Today).

I have seen lots of Bollywood actors and actresses attend Cannes Film Festival every year, but this is first time I am seeing that an Indian film is in competition. Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) alumna Payal Kapadia’s first narrative feature, ”All We Imagine as Light,” has broken a 30-year-long jinx by securing a slot in the festival’s Main Competition. The last Indian film to compete for the Palme d’Or – Shaji N. Karun’s Malayalam-language Swaham – made the cut in 1994.  I hope Payal’s film get noticed.  Cannes is going to roll its red carpet on May 14. I, as an Indian fan, will look forward for the result. Hope we get something and this will pave many more filmmakers to exhibit their talent at the global stage. Hope for the best.

Farzana Husnain,

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