'No sugar-coated cinema for me': Indian director who scripted history at Venice
Published: 9/20/2025

Indian director Anuparna Roy made history by winning the Orizzonti Award for her debut film "Songs of Forgotten Trees" at the Venice Film Festival, becoming the first Indian director to achieve this honor. Roy's film delves into the intimate relationship between two women in Mumbai, exploring themes of same-sex desire, marginality, and survival in an urban setting. Through her personal experiences and unique filmmaking style, Roy portrays the emotional depth and daily struggles of her characters, drawing inspiration from her grassroots upbringing and challenging traditional filmmaking conventions.