Who is Payal Kapadia? Tracing Her Journey from Protesting Gajendra Chauhan at FTII to Winning the Grand Prix at Cannes

As Payal Kapadia won the Grand Prix award at the Cannes Film Festival for “All We Imagine As Light,” lyricist-turned-filmmaker Varun Grover took to X to write, “Dissent, in art and in life, is a tough path to choose. But sometimes it does create magic.”

Payal’s history with dissent makes her achievement at Cannes all the more remarkable.

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Payal Kapadia’s History with Dissent

During her time in film school, Payal Kapadia led a student protest against the appointment of actor-politician Gajendra Chauhan as chairman of the Film & Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune. In 2015, an FIR was filed against Payal and 34 other students for holding FTII director Prashant Pathrabe captive in his office. The protest was sparked by Prashant’s decision to assess the incomplete projects of students from the 2008 batch.

Payal also led what was likely the longest protest in the institution’s history, lasting 139 days from June to October 2015, against the appointment of BJP member Gajendra Chauhan as Chairperson of FTII. The students questioned Chauhan’s “vision” and “stature,” deeming him unfit to lead such a prestigious institution. As a result of their protests, Payal and other students faced disciplinary actions, including the denial of scholarships.

Payal’s Journey at Cannes

In 2017, then-FTII director Bhupendra Kainthola issued a letter of support and covered Payal Kapadia’s travel expenses when her short film, Afternoon Clouds, was selected for screening at the Cannes Film Festival. The 13-minute film, screened under the Cinéfondation forum for short films, revolves around a 60-year-old widow living with her Nepali house help, set within a single afternoon inside a house. Usha Naik and Trimala Adhikari played the respective roles.

Payal returned to Cannes in 2021 with her documentary A Night of Knowing Nothing. The documentary portrays letters written by an FTII student to her ex-boyfriend, who is forbidden to marry her due to caste differences. Payal won the Golden Eye award for the best documentary film that year.

Payal’s Historic Achievement at Cannes

Payal Kapadia scripted history by becoming the first Indian filmmaker to win the Grand Prix award for her directorial debut feature, All We Imagine as Light. The film won the second-most prestigious prize at the Cannes Film Festival, second only to the Palme d’Or. This film marks the first Indian entry in the main competition in 30 years and is the first ever by an Indian female director. Payal received the Grand Prix from American actor Viola Davis.

All We Imagine as Light, a Malayalam-Hindi feature, centers on Prabha, a nurse whose life is thrown into disarray by an unexpected gift from her long-estranged husband. Her younger roommate, Anu, struggles to find a private spot in the big city to be alone with her boyfriend. One day, the two nurses embark on a road trip to a beach town where a mystical forest becomes a space for their dreams to manifest.

The film became a strong contender for the top prize after its screening, which received an eight-minute standing ovation and garnered glowing reviews from international critics.

Ali Fazal Criticizes FTII’s Hypocrisy

Actor Ali Fazal didn’t hold back in calling out the Film & Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune for celebrating its alumnus Payal Kapadia’s historic Grand Prix win at the Cannes Film Festival.

FTII’s Post

On Sunday, the official X handle of FTII shared a couple of pictures from the Cannes Film Festival featuring alumni Payal Kapadia and Chidanand Naik, who won the La Cinef Award for Best Short for her film Sunflowers Were The First Ones To Know. The caption read, “It is a moment of pride for FTII as its Alumni create history at Cannes. As we witness a phenomenal year for Indian Cinema at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, FTII cherishes the glorious achievements of its Alumni at this Mega International Stage of Cinema.”

Uhhh… please don’t. Just dont. https://t.co/UcBzjUp4GO

— Ali Fazal M / میر علی فضل / अली (@alifazal9) May 26, 2024

Reactions to FTII’s Post

Ali Fazal reposted FTII’s message with the caption, “Uhhh… please don’t. Just don’t.” Back in 2015, disciplinary action was taken against Payal for leading a student protest against the appointment of actor-turned-politician Gajendra Chauhan as FTII president, arguing that he lacked the credibility to head a premier institution like FTII.

Additionally, Pune Police filed a chargesheet against 35 students, including Payal, for holding then-FTII director Prashant Pathrabe captive in his office after he decided to assess incomplete projects from the 2008 batch. Payal and other students were also denied scholarships.

However, in 2017, the new FTII director Bhupendra Kainthola course-corrected by issuing a letter of support and covering Payal’s travel expenses to attend the Cannes Film Festival for the screening of her short film Afternoon Clouds.

Now, Payal has become the first Indian filmmaker to win the Grand Prix award for her directorial debut feature All We Imagine As Light. Other X users also objected to FTII’s post, with one commenting, “They are forced to post this. Success made it.” Another wrote, ”Taking credit for her success after the torture and harassment you forced upon her … have some shame seriously!!” A third comment read, “Shame Shame Shame…. But for you FTII this would have happened so much earlier and so many more would have come our country’s way…”