Anuparna Roy’s Historic Best Director Win at the 82nd Venice Film Festival: A New Dawn for Indian Cinema

When we think of Indian cinema making waves globally, the first names that come to mind are usually Satyajit Ray, Mira Nair, or even RRR’s Oscar-winning song. But now, a new name has etched itself into history—Anuparna Roy, a young filmmaker from Purulia, West Bengal, who has become the first Indian director to win the Best Director Award in the Orizzonti (Horizons) section at the Venice Film Festival.

Her debut film, Songs of Forgotten Trees, didn’t just screen at Venice—it conquered it. This isn’t just a win for Roy, but for every small-town dreamer, every woman who has been told “this field is not for you,” and every Indian filmmaker trying to break through the noise of mainstream Bollywood with stories rooted in truth.

The Debut Feature That Stunned Venice: Songs of Forgotten Trees

Presented by Anurag Kashyap, Songs of Forgotten Trees was the only Indian film in the Orizzonti section at Venice 2025. And it wasn’t just there to fill a slot—it resonated deeply with audiences and jurors, ultimately earning Roy the Best Director prize on September 6, 2025.

What’s the Film About?

At its heart, the movie follows Thooya, a migrant and aspiring actress trying to survive Mumbai’s brutal underbelly. She navigates life using her beauty and street smarts, sometimes making painful compromises. Her world collides with Swetha, another migrant who works in the corporate sector. When Thooya sublets her sugar daddy’s flat to Swetha, the two women—coming from entirely different struggles—find an unexpected kinship.

Through their bond, Roy explores themes of solidarity, resilience, and the quiet power of female friendship in a city that rarely pauses for anyone. It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s incredibly Indian, even while being universally relatable.

From Purulia to Venice: Anuparna’s Journey

Anuparna Roy was born on May 9, 1994, in Narayanpur, a small tribal village in Purulia district, West Bengal. Her father worked as a production manager, and her mother was a homemaker. Like many middle-class kids, she studied at local schools—Narayanpur Primary School, Ranipur Colliery High School, and Naopara High School—before pursuing English Literature at Kulti College under Burdwan University. She later completed her Master’s in Mass Communication in Delhi.

But her path wasn’t straightforward. She worked in a Delhi call centre and later as an IT sales executive in Mumbai. Imagine—answering calls and making corporate pitches by day, dreaming of cinema by night. That tug of storytelling never left her.

So, she took a bold step: joined Anupam Kher’s Actor Prepares Institute, attended workshops, and immersed herself in acting and direction. Slowly but surely, she inched closer to her real calling—cinema.

The Making of Songs of Forgotten Trees

This film wasn’t born out of luxury. In 2022, Roy quit her IT job and shot the movie from a rented apartment in Azad Nagar, Mumbai. The lead actors, Naaz Shaikh and Sumi Baghel, even stayed with her during production, living and breathing the film together.

The team behind the film was equally passionate:

• Producers: Bibhanshu Rai, Romil Modi, Ranjan Singh

• Co-Proucers: Sharib Khan & Vikas Kumar of ‘Khan & Kumar Media’

• Cinematography: Debjit Samanta

• Editing: Ashish Patel

• Music: Nishant Ramteke

It was less of a film set, more of a shared life experiment—where the lines between reality and cinema blurred. That authenticity shines through on screen, and perhaps that’s what Venice recognized.

The Historic Win and Her Dedication

When Anuparna Roy took the stage at Venice to accept her award, her words struck a chord worldwide:

“This is for every woman who has ever been silenced, overlooked, or underestimated.”

Her win wasn’t just personal—it was political, emotional, and symbolic. It was about women taking back their space in cinema, not just as muses or supporting characters, but as storytellers and visionaries.

The recognition was celebrated back home too. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and Governor C.V. Ananda Bose congratulated her, calling it a proud moment for the state and for India.

Why This Matters for Indian Cinema

Indian cinema has always been rich in talent, but global recognition is often skewed toward mainstream or male-dominated stories. Anuparna’s win signals a shift—towards independent cinema, women-centric narratives, and voices from the margins.

It proves that you don’t need a mega-budget or a star-studded cast to make global waves. What you need is honesty, courage, and the ability to tell a story that feels both personal and universal.

For young women across India, this is a beacon. If a girl from a tribal village in Purulia can stand on the Venice stage, so can you.

What’s Next for Anuparna Roy?

With Songs of Forgotten Trees preparing for wider release, film critics and fans are already wondering what she will do next. Will she stay rooted in women’s stories? Will she explore new genres? Whatever the case, one thing is certain: Anuparna Roy’s career is set to redefine Indian independent cinema.

A Journey That Inspires

From Narayanpur’s dusty lanes to Venice’s glamorous red carpet, Roy’s journey is nothing short of a movie script itself. It’s about resilience, belief, and the refusal to settle for a safe life when your soul demands something more.

Her story reminds us that cinema isn’t just about entertainment—it’s about empathy, truth, and representation. And in Anuparna Roy, India has found a filmmaker who embodies all three.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is Anuparna Roy’s debut film Songs of Forgotten Trees about?

It’s a women-centric drama about two migrants in Mumbai—an aspiring actress and a corporate employee—whose lives intersect. The film explores themes of survival, resilience, and female solidarity in an unforgiving city.

2. Why is Anuparna Roy’s Venice Film Festival win historic?

She became the first Indian director to win Best Director in the Orizzonti section at Venice, marking a global breakthrough for Indian independent cinema and women filmmakers.

3. How did Anuparna Roy enter the film industry?

She worked in a call centre and corporate jobs before joining acting and filmmaking workshops. In 2022, she quit her IT job and made her debut feature with limited resources in Mumbai.

4. Who are the key collaborators of Songs of Forgotten Trees?

The film stars Naaz Shaikh and Sumi Baghel, with cinematography by Debjit Samanta, editing by Ashish Patel, and music by Nishant Ramteke. It was produced by Bibhanshu Rai, Romil Modi, and Ranjan Singh.

5. What does Anuparna Roy’s win mean for future Indian filmmakers?

It shows that authentic, independent voices—especially women directors—can gain international recognition without big budgets, inspiring more diverse and inclusive storytelling in Indian cinema.