Payal Kapadia interview: ‘Laapata Ladies was a sensible choice for the Oscars as lobbying in Hollywood takes money’
In an interview with Hindustan Times, director Payal Kapadia talks about All We Imagine As Light not getting selected as India's official entry for the Oscars.
When director Payal Kapadia’s film All We Imagine As Light won the Grand Prix at Cannes 2024, she became an overnight global sensation. However, this was not the first feather in the cap for the 38-year-old – her documentary A Night of Knowing Nothing won L’Œil d’or (The Golden Eye) Award at Cannes 2021, among numerous other awards. All We Imagine As Light is the Film and Television Institute of India graduate’s first feature and she’s excited to see it release on screens across India on November 22. Also read: Kiran Rao thinks it's ‘low’ of people to credit ex-husband Aamir Khan for her success: ‘He has a hand in my life but…’
Featuring Kani Kusruti and Divya Prabha as two Malayali nurses, Prabha and Anu respectively, and Chhaya Kadam as Parvaty, the cook, the film about these three migrants is set in Mumbai and takes us through their stories. In this exclusive chat with Hindustan Times, Payal Kapadia talks about Laapataa Ladies vs her film as Oscar contenders.
Were you disappointed that your film didn’t get the Oscar nomination from India?
It’s okay. Like, that’s part of life. And actually, I really like Laapataa Ladies. I’ll tell you honestly, I already got a lot from this film. I took a long time to make it. I didn’t have any private money to make this film. I’ve only looked at grants, collecting money and taking five years to make it. For me, the fact that the film got made, it got shown at this really big festival (Cannes 2024) has been a lot. Anything else I get more than that, I’m like, oh, wow, one more thing. So, I was happy only.
Do you think the Oscars and awards do matter?
I think the main thing is that you should be able to release a film in India. That for me is very important. And that I’m getting now. After so many years, I’m really, I’m really curious to see how it goes.
When the Oscar nomination was announced, there was a lot of talk on social media that Aamir Khan had the money power that was necessary for lobbying in Hollywood.
That matters in the Oscar race, so in a way, it’s a sensible choice because the Oscar is like a lobby. And I am learning all this new work now. I never used to follow the Oscars so intricately. Of course, when the Oscar Awards come you are watching it on TV and you are like excited about it, but what it actually means and what goes into it, I am learning now. I was thinking that this was a whole other ball game. So, in a way having the financial support is a very good thing and it takes a film much further than when you do not have any money to do it. My film being short-listed in France as a potential submission for the Oscars was very random.