All We Imagine as Light and What it Represents

by Sarina Govindaiah

For as long as I can remember, I loved film more than anything. I would spend many nights staying in and exploring new movies. This is a love which has only grown with time and has become a defining aspect of my life. However, something which became very apparent to me was the lack of Indian cinema in the Western World. Classical Indian films my mother showed me throughout my childhood have been permanently ingrained into my memory, and I knew that Indian cinema existed. So why did it never get the recognition I felt like it deserved? This lack of recognition for Indian cinema, the largest film producing country in the world, has shifted in the last decade. Indian films have gained more prevalence through streaming services, award ceremonies, and film festivals. One such film festival is Cannes Film Festival, one of the most prestigious and exclusive festivals in the world. When I got the opportunity to attend the 77th Cannes Film Festival through the American Pavilion, I knew I had to go.

For the first time in 30 years, an Indian film played in main competition for the Palme D’or, the highest prize the festival awards. All We Imagine as Light is a Malayalam language film directed by Payal Kapadia which follows three Indian women and how they navigate their lives in Mumbai. This film ended up taking home the Grand Prix, which is considered the second most prestigious award at Cannes. There are a couple aspects to this film which immediately stick out. The first being the language. The films which people tend to associate with Indian cinema are typically Hindi or Telugu language films, so for a Malayalam film to get selected for this recognition is not what most expect. That being said, Malayalam films have historically gotten more recognition from international and Western critics than their counterparts. The second aspect of this film which is prominent is how it is a feminist film, centered around women, and directed by a woman. This film was also a co-production between India, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Italy. While I do not love the thought of Western interference into this film, it was undoubtedly essential to All We Imagine as Light getting international recognition. In an increasingly globalized world, more and more countries are engaging in co-productions to get external funding and resources to make their movies possible. Kapadia was able to use European grants to make this film possible without sacrificing its authenticity. So, if co-productions can open the doors for future overlooked filmmakers, then the positives outweigh the negatives.

I had the honor of attending the premiere for All We Imagine as Light on May 23rd. It was incredibly surreal to watch the cast dance together and soak in the joy of the moment on the red carpet as photographers took their pictures. As the lights rose on the theater after it ended, I loved getting to watch them bask in their 8.5 minute long standing ovation. However, the more I thought about the movie, the more I left feeling empty and unsatisfied. I loved the idea of a small story following three women who work in a hospital in Mumbai and using their intergenerational friendship to reflect life in the city. However, I believed the film bit off more than it could chew. One such example is Anu, played by Divya Prabha, and her relationship with Shiz, played by Hridhu Haroon. Anu is a Hindu who loves Shiz, but he is Muslim. Throughout the film, they go to extreme lengths to keep their relationship a secret. All We Imagine as Light does not directly address the rising Islamophobia sentiments from Hindus in India; however, the film does highlight how this relationship is considered taboo, with Anu and Shiz sharing secret moments with each other. Throughout the film, the audience understands that this relationship will most likely not work in the long run, however we root for them because their love feels so true. Another subplot was Parvaty, played by Chhaya Kadam, and her life as a cook at the hospital where Anu and Prabha work. Within her story, we see the way a history of gender imbalances can uproot one’s whole life. The shining star of the film though is Prabha, acted to perfection by Kani Kusruti. She is the emotional core of this film, and her sadness over her relationship and life is palpable. Prabha functions as the perfect character foil to Anu, wherein the latter is inquisitive and innocent, and the former is disillusioned with the world.

These ideas all come to a head in a pivotal moment which feels ripe for a reveal straight out of an Indian soap opera. All We Imagine as Light does not play into this though, instead choosing to subvert the standard narrative . Instead, the film subverts the classic Bollywood choice. This created a lack of catharsis for me as an audience member and left me with a bit of disappointment. However, as I reflected on my emotions, I realized that this was the point that Payal Kapadia was making with this film. While we want a film to be wrapped up in a perfect little bow, that is not the way the real world works. Kapadia chooses to accurately reflect the lives of Prabha, Anu, and Parvathy, disappointment and lack of resolution and all. All We Imagine as Light does not make any outright political statements, but it does examine how various social struggles - rising Islamophobia, sexism, the expectations of marriage, and more - shape our lives in a variety of ways which may not be apparent at the time, but are clearly there upon reflection. 

Our lives encompass so many different aspects, something reflected to perfection with the varying story threads in the film, and it is impossible to be happy with the resolution to every single one in the real world. We cannot and should need some dramatic reveal to be satisfied with a story. These characters feel real and human in an indescribable way, and as an audience member watching the film, I could not help but feel like I was right next to them in the story. And ultimately, that is the power of film. Cinema has the ability to make us feel more human and to connect to experiences which are not our own. And the authenticity in All We Imagine as Light reflects this perfectly with its down-to-earth storytelling. If we can use this medium to tell more stories which reflect the importance of fighting for change and for a better future, in the case of India, one where Hindus and Muslims are not religiously divided, and where women are treated with the respect they deserve, then we can create a better future for all. I loved getting to watch this film, and am grateful it received the flowers and praise it deserved and I hope it continues to throughout the international awards circuit.