/indigomusic/media/media_files/2025/09/07/anuparna-roy-2025-09-07-10-41-35.png)
Image Courtesy: Money Control
'Songs of Forgotten Trees,' Anuparna Roy's feature directing debut, has made a significant impact on the world of film. It was the only Indian film to be shown in the 82nd Venice Film Festival's renowned Orizzonti Competition, and Roy won the category's 'Best Director' prize. The personal and emotionally raw movie, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, centers on two migrant women in Mumbai who develop a quiet but profoundly sympathetic friendship as they deal with identity, survival, and social restraints.
/newsnation-english/media/media_files/media/details/ANI-20250906210601-844937.jpg)
Image Courtesy: News Nation (English)
At the closing ceremony, Roy, wearing a white saree, called it "surreal" to receive the award from French filmmaker Julia Ducournau and thanked the jury, her actors, producers, and Kashyap for their support.
About the Film: A Story Rooted in Empathy and Identity
Through charm and strategic concessions, such as a transactional relationship that grants her refuge and movement, Thooya, a promising actress and migrant woman, navigates Mumbai's harsh reality in 'Songs of Forgotten Trees.' Swetha, a corporate employee attempting to establish a life in the city, is the tenant of this space. As memories, scars, and aspirations come to light, their shared apartment becomes the location of shaky closeness and mutual understanding. The claustrophobic activity of the city and the characters' quiet longing are captured by cinematographer Debjit Samanta's vision.
/indigomusic/media/post_attachments/content/2025/jul/anuparna-roys-debut-film-songs-of-forgotten-trees-249903.jpg)
Image Courtesy: Filmfare
The story of the movie is based on Roy's personal experiences, including her early years in rural Bengal, discrimination based on gender and caste, and a heart-breaking friendship that ended too soon. Through this, she channels personal history into a story that champions marginal voices and resilient sisterhood. The film features a talented cast including Naaz Shaikh, Sumi Baghel, Bhushan Shimpi, Ravi Maan, and Lovely Singh.
Have a look into the film's preview:
From Obscurity to International Recognition
The journey to Venice was born out of persistence and passion. Filmmaking, according to Roy, who balanced three corporate jobs to finance the project herself, is a calling she couldn't put on hold. It took her from viewing pirated movies on her laptop in a small rural town to being honoured at one of the biggest film festivals in the world. Supported and hosted by Anurag Kashyap, her initiative received a resounding reception when it debuted in the Orizzonti section to a packed house. As one of India's most captivating up-and-coming voices, Kashyap applauded Roy's effort, pointing out that it would have been "impossible to pull off even 25 years ago" to create such a picture in the current environment.
/filters:format(webp)/indigomusic/media/media_files/2025/09/07/capture-roy-2025-09-07-10-52-34.png)
Roy completed 'Songs of Forgotten Trees' in 2024 as a deeply personal, self-funded project. Now based in the city, she continues to work on new screenplays that explore female agency, marginalized voices, and Third World Cinema.
