The world of cinema often spotlights stories of perseverance, but few are as inspiring as that of Anuparna Roy. Hailing from the humble Narayanpur village in Purulia, West Bengal, Anuparna’s journey is a testament to the power of passion against conventional expectations. Against the backdrop of initial skepticism from her family and a career path filled with unconventional twists, she achieved a historic feat: becoming the first Indian to win the Best Director award in the prestigious Orizzonti section at the 82nd Venice Film Festival.
The Unconventional Path: Leaving Comfort for Cinema
Anuparna’s educational background, with an Honours degree in English from Kulti College and a stint in Mass Communication in Delhi, suggested a traditional career. However, her true passion lay elsewhere.
Parental Concerns and the ‘Film Line’
Her foray into the film industry, or the “film line” as her parents called it, was met with strong objections from her father, a retired colliery officer, and her mother. Their concerns were rooted in a lack of understanding of the filmmaking profession, compounded by Anuparna’s frequent job changes and her habit of investing all her salary into her early films.
Her parents’ initial reaction was one of worry and even jest. Her father recalls mocking her by asking, “Will you become Satyajit Ray?” Anuparna’s response was determined: she wouldn’t be Ray, but she wouldn’t stop working in films.
The Struggles of a Filmmaker
Anuparna relocated to Mumbai, where she worked a number of jobs, including IT sales, to fund her dream. She stayed in a rented apartment and faced her fair share of struggles. Despite her parents’ anxiety, her strong will and adamancy ensured she kept moving forward, using every resource to fuel her creative work.
The Triumph: Song of Forgotten Trees
All the sacrifice and perseverance culminated in a moment of international recognition for her film, “Song of Forgotten Trees.”
- The Film’s Premise: The film depicts the story of two women who share an apartment in Mumbai and develop a deep, shared connection despite their different backgrounds—a narrative rooted in the complexities of urban life and human relationships.
- The Historic Win: At the Venice Film Festival, one of the ‘Big Three’ film festivals in the world, Anuparna was awarded the Best Director in the Orizzonti (Horizons) section. The award recognizes works that represent the latest aesthetic and expressive trends in international cinema.
The Homecoming: Pride Replaces Prejudice
When Anuparna called her parents from Italy to share the news of her win, they were initially stunned and could hardly believe the scale of her achievement.
The once-skeptical parents are now bursting with pride. Her father admitted they were wrong to doubt her, saying, “She proved herself.” Her mother, recalling Anuparna’s simple request for rice and mutton whenever she returned home, eagerly awaits her victorious return, celebrating the monumental journey “From a village in Purulia to Italy to win the award.”
Anuparna Roy’s achievement is not just a personal victory; it is an inspiring validation for every aspiring artist from a small town who dares to dream big, proving that passion, not privilege, determines the reach of one’s talent.
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