All We Imagine as Light director Payal Kapadia praises Malayalam cinema at Cannes: 'The audience in Kerala...'

Filmmaker Payal Kapadia is the woman of the moment following her historic win at the Cannes Film Festival. Her new movie, All We Imagine as Light, was not only screened in the competition section at Cannes but also won the festival's second biggest award, the Grand Prix.

Payal Kapadia and the film's main cast members, including Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, and Chhaya Kadam, addressed a press conference at the festival. Discussing the changing trends and dynamics in the Indian film industry, Payal praised Malayalam movies and the audiences in Kerala.

"Everything is changing, and even Bollywood is changing. Especially in films out of Kerala, there is an immense range of films being made. Even arthouse movies get distribution in Kerala, which doesn't happen in the rest of the country. The audience in Kerala is really open to watching different kinds of films," said Payal.

ALSO READ: All We Imagine as Light director Payal Kapadia at Cannes: 'Please don't wait for another 30 years...'

The Malayalam film industry has been redefining the idea of mainstream movies for almost a decade now. Malayalam filmmakers have been innovating ways to find the perfect balance between art and commerce. While continuing to make groundbreaking films, the industry also frequently rolls out movies aimed at meeting the expectations of mass audiences who crave mindless entertainment.

Take, for example, The Great Indian Kitchen. The 2021 drama was hailed as a breakthrough in visual storytelling. The film portrays seemingly innocent household chores that women have been doing for 100 years in a never-seen-before light, provoking contemplation. Several mainstream streaming platforms initially refused to partner with The Great Indian Kitchen due to fears of social backlash. Later, the movie debuted on a little-known streaming platform and became an instant classic. Following its massive critical success, the film inspired several remakes, including in Hindi, with A-listers playing the lead roles.

"The government of Kerala supports female filmmakers with some grants. There are people who watch even experimental films in Kerala," said Kani Kusruti, seconding Payal's observations about the Malayalam film industry.

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