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Anuparna Roy has become a new voice of global cinema after her debut film Songs of Forgotten Trees won the Orizzonti Award at the Venice Film Festival earlier this month. The achievement has placed her among a rare group of Indian filmmakers recognized internationally, but her background makes the triumph particularly extraordinary. Hailing from a small tribal village in West Bengal's Purulia district, Roy's rise to acclaim demonstrates both resilience and originality.
The 31-year-old filmmaker did not come from the cultural hubs of India like Kolkata or Mumbai, where celebrated auteurs such as Satyajit Ray and Ritwik Ghatak emerged. Instead, she began her career in a call center, working in Delhi as a way to secure economic stability and escape the pressures of an early marriage. It was there that she encountered film students and discovered her passion for cinema. Over the following years, Roy saved diligently to fund her first short film, Run to the River, before eventually moving to Mumbai to pursue filmmaking full time.
Her bold approach paid off when she pitched her idea for Songs of Forgotten Trees to producer Ranjan Singh, who agreed to back the project after hearing her vision. With additional support from acclaimed director Anurag Kashyap, Roy brought her story to life. Set in Mumbai, the film follows two women—an aspiring actress and a migrant worker—whose lives intertwine in unexpected ways as they navigate same-sex desire and marginalization.
Critics have praised Roy's work for its restraint, authenticity, and clear-eyed portrayal of urban survival. The Hollywood Reporter called it a moving portrait of resilience, while other outlets noted her unusual filmmaking style that abandoned traditional shot structures in favor of long, observational takes. The film was shot in her own apartment, with the actresses even living there during production to capture the intimacy of daily life.
Deeply personal, the narrative draws inspiration from Roy's grandmother and her stepdaughter, as well as friends from her childhood. Her storytelling is political as much as it is artistic, exploring themes of class, gender, and inequality. On stage in Venice, Roy underscored this by wearing a saree embroidered with motifs representing both her home region and solidarity with Palestine.
Roy has already begun drafting a sequel and a prequel to Songs of Forgotten Trees, confirming that her voice in cinema will continue to grow. She remains adamant, however, that she will not turn to mainstream commercial filmmaking, insisting that her duty is to reflect the complexities of real life.
