Anuparna Roy, a filmmaker hailing from Purulia, West Bengal, has recently achieved international recognition by winning the Best Director Award at the 82nd Venice Film Festival in the Orizzonti (Horizons) section. Roy is the first Indian director to receive this honor. Her debut feature film, "Songs of Forgotten Trees," earned her this prestigious award.
Roy’s journey to becoming an award-winning filmmaker was unconventional. Growing up in Narayanpur, a small tribal village in Purulia, she came from a middle-class, non-filmy background. Her parents, Brahmananda and Manisha Roy, lived in Kulati and had roots in the Junglemahal region, specifically Rangaamati village. Anuparna attended local schools, including Narayanpur Primary School, Ranipur Colliery High School, and Naopara High School. She later pursued English Honours at Kulti College and a Master's degree in Mass Communication in Delhi.
Before pursuing her passion for filmmaking, Roy worked in the IT sector in Delhi. However, she moved to Mumbai after the COVID-19 pandemic and rediscovered her love for cinema, leading her to write screenplays. Roy's initial foray into filmmaking involved juggling IT and call center jobs to fund her projects. She made her debut with a short film in 2023, "Run to the River", which was shot in Purulia. This film, based on her grandmother's life in British-era Bengal, tells the story of a Dalit girl married to a revolutionary freedom fighter.
"Songs of Forgotten Trees" (SOFT), Roy's debut feature film, explores themes of loneliness, struggle, and quiet resistance through the lives of two migrant women in Mumbai. One is a part-time sex worker, and the other works in a call center. The film depicts how these two women, initially strangers sharing a room, develop a close bond. "Songs of Forgotten Trees" was the sole Indian entry in the Orizzonti section at the Venice Film Festival.
Roy's parents were initially skeptical about her career choice, as they worried about her leaving a secure job and investing her savings in filmmaking. Her father, who works as a production manager at Eastern Coalfields Limited, confessed that he never imagined his daughter would win such a prestigious award. Her mother had hoped she would become a government employee. However, their doubts eventually turned into immense pride as they witnessed her success on the international stage.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Governor C.V. Ananda Bose congratulated Roy on her achievement. Banerjee expressed her delight and acknowledged Roy's roots in the Junglemahal region, emphasizing that her success was a victory for the girls of Bengal. Bose stated that Roy had brought glory to Purulia and West Bengal.
Anuparna Roy's journey exemplifies perseverance, determination, and the courage to pursue one's dreams despite societal expectations and financial constraints. Her win at the Venice Film Festival marks a significant milestone for Indian cinema and serves as an inspiration for aspiring filmmakers from small towns and villages.
