Big City experience in India explored a the VIFF

Payal Kapadia's ‘All We Imagine As Light' at the Vancouver International Film Festival

Payal Kapadia’s ‘All We Imagine As Light’, after the historic win of the prestigious Grand Prix Award at the Cannes Film Fesival, screened at the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) after screen at the Toronto Internation Film Festival (VIFF).  It was the first Indian film to feature the Cannes festival’s main segment in 30 years. The last Indian movie to make it to the competition section was Shaji N Karun’s Swaham in 1994.

‘All We Imagine As Light’ cast includes Kani KusrutiDivya PrabhaChhaya Kadam and Hridhu Haroon. The film was an international co-production involving companies from France, India, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Italy.  Shot in Mumbai in multiple languages where people from all over India come to work. It follows frontline health workers who live in very precarious living conditions to survive to fulfil their dreams. This is very gritty film which is a contrast to a typical Bollywood style.

It is reminiscent of the 2008 Academy Award winning film Slumdog Millionaire also shot and set in Mumbai about people struggling to fulfill their dreams. Music composer A.R Rahman who won two Academy Awards for his music for Slumdog Millionaire was also featured at the VIFF where the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra played some of the music composed by Rahman. There was an intimate dialogue with Rahman with film from films in including Slumdog Millionaire as well as clips from his famous Bollywood films and insight into his other and upcoming projects. 

The VIFF also included the screening of The Big City from legendry filmmaker Satyajit Ray who portrays life in a Big City of his native Kolkata, following the struggles of Arati (Madhabi Mukherjee), making it in the big city to fulfil her dreams.  The film was curated by Pakistani Canadian filmmaker  Zarrar Khan.