#BazaarWomenInFocus: Anuparna Roy is quietly reshaping the language of Indian cinema

Some filmmakers tell stories, and some let silence, shadows, and stillness do the talking. Anuparna Roy is surely the latter. The filmmaker made history this year as the first Indian to win the Best Director award in the Orizzonti section at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival for her debut feature film, Songs of Forgotten Trees. It is an achievement that not only cements her as one of the most exciting voices to emerge from India in recent years but also marks a new chapter for Indian storytelling on the world stage.

Through the layered narrative and measured silences of Songs of Forgotten Trees, Roy explores memory, womanhood, and belonging in ways that feel deeply intimate yet universally resonant. It’s the kind of cinema that lingers long after the credits roll—one that demands your patience, but rewards it with quiet revelations.

Roy’s filmmaking is rooted in observation. Her lens captures not just moments but moods—a flicker of expression, a half-spoken word, the rustle of wind between trees. It’s this deliberate attention to nuances that has made her work stand apart in a space often dominated by spectacle.

Before her Venice triumph, Roy spent years honing her craft, working across independent film circles, documentaries, and experimental shorts that often blurred the line between reality and fiction. Those early years shaped her unique cinematic voice, and in Songs of Forgotten Trees, that voice finds full bloom.

As she walked up to receive the Harper’s Bazaar Women of the Year 2025 Award for Film Direction on October 25, there was a palpable sense of pride in the room. Roy’s win at Venice was a moment when Indian cinema’s quieter, more contemplative side finally found global recognition.

Her speech, though brief, reflected her humility and gratitude. She said, "Thank you so much. I just feel so honoured to be here. I can’t describe my feelings right now. I want to thank my producers, all of you, the team, and the cast. Because of them, I am here, and I wish you all a great evening. Thank you."

With her speech, Roy reminded everyone that filmmaking is a collective art and that it thrives on collaboration, trust, and shared vision, rather than a single person. As she continues her journey, one thing is certain: Anuparna Roy is redefining what it means to make Indian cinema introspective, inclusive, and fearless.

Because sometimes, the most powerful stories are the ones told in whispers.

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