Bengal’s Anupurna Roy Wins Best Director at Venice Film Festival for Songs of Forgotten Trees
Indian filmmaker Anupurna Roy has etched her name in cinematic history, winning the Best Director award at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival for her film Songs of Forgotten Trees. The announcement came during the closing ceremony of the prestigious festival last week, where Roy, draped in a sari with kohl-lined eyes, represented India on the global stage. The victory is being celebrated across West Bengal and beyond as a proud moment for the country. For Roy, 35, the journey to Venice began far from the red carpets of Europe. She grew up in Narayanpur, a village in Purulia district’s Nituria block, where her father, Brahmananda Roy, worked in a coal mine. She completed her schooling at Ranipur Colliery High School before moving to Durgapur for further studies. After earning a degree in English literature from Kulti College, she pursued a master’s in mass communication in Delhi. Roy briefly worked in the IT sector but left the stability of a desk job to chase her dream of filmmaking in Mumbai. The decision worried her father, who often urged her to take the safer route of a government or corporate career. “I always wanted her to be financially secure,” he said. “But she had the courage to follow her passion. Today I can only feel proud.” That pride overflowed when Anupurna phoned her father past midnight from Venice to share the news of her win. “Baba, I got the award… can you hear me?” she told him, her voice trembling with joy. Her family and community are celebrating her achievement. “She was good in studies but also active in sports and cultural activities,” recalled her former schoolteacher Sujit Kumar Pal. “We always knew she was destined for something special.” Her aunt Baby Roy added, “For us, she’s still the little girl we saw growing up. To see her win such honors feels incredible.” Roy’s mother, Manisha, expressed both happiness and longing, as her daughter will not be home for Durga Puja this year. Instead, the filmmaker will head to London in October to participate in the London Film Festival, where her award-winning film will also be screened. For Roy, the recognition at Venice is more than a personal triumph. It signals a new chapter for Indian independent cinema on the global stage. As she returns to Mumbai this week, her family, teachers and admirers in Purulia will continue to wait eagerly for the day the award-winning director comes
