Every child deserves peace, freedom, liberation, Palestine no exception: Anuparna Roy at VFM
Roy became first Indian to win Best Director at Venice’s International Film Festival
New Delhi / Venice: Indian debut filmmaker Anuparna Roy has made history at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, becoming the first Indian to win the Best Director award in the Orizzonti (Horizons) section. She received the honour for her feature film Songs of Forgotten Trees, which stood as the only Indian entry in this prestigious category this year.
Roy received the award at the festival’s closing ceremony, where the jury was headed by French director Julia Ducournau. Dressed in a white saree, she described the moment as “surreal” and extended heartfelt thanks to the jury, cast, crew, producers, and Anurag Kashyap, the film’s presenter.
While accepting the award, Roy addressed the ongoing Gaza conflict, stating: “Every child deserves peace, freedom, and liberation, and Palestine is no exception. It is a responsibility to think for a moment and stand beside Palestine. I might upset my country but it doesn’t matter to me anymore”. Her remarks immediately sparked debate and discussion on social media.
Songs of Forgotten Trees weaves the story of two migrant women living in Mumbai—Thooya, an aspirant actress, and Swetha, a corporate professional—who form a connection despite their different paths. The film, backed by Anurag Kashyap, was directed by Roy and features performances by Naaz Shaikh and Sumi Baghel and explores themes of urban loneliness, resilience, and shared humanity.
Multiple Indian and international outlets have hailed the victory as a significant milestone for Indian cinema, placing a spotlight on indie filmmaking in the global arena. Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra also took to social media to laud Roy’s achievement, noting its importance for women filmmakers and Indian storytelling worldwide.
"It is a responsibility to think for a moment and stand beside Palestine. I might upset my country but it doesn't matter anymore," says Indian filmmaker Anuparna Roy after winning Best Director award in the Orizzonti section at Venice Film Festival. pic.twitter.com/u3CJLxKQhK
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Two killed, one injured in bike-SUV collision in UP's Banda
Banda (UP) (PTI): Two people were killed and another injured on Sunday morning after their motorcycle collided head-on with an SUV near a village in Naraini area in the district, police said.
The accident took place near Padmai village at around 5 am when all three individuals riding the motorcycle were returning home from a wedding ceremony, Naraini SHO Sandeep Tiwari said.
According to the police, the motorcyclist, Ajay Rajput, 24, a resident of Barua Kalinjar village, died on the spot, while his cousin, Prabha, 20, passed away at the hospital during treatment.
His brother-in-law, Rakesh, 23, who sustained critical injuries, is currently undergoing treatment at the Banda Medical College, police said.
The police have seized the SUV and registered a case in connection with the incident, the SHO said.
The bodies of the deceased have been sent for a post-mortem, police said.
