Payal Kapadia’s Oscar Contender ‘All We Imagine as Light’ Drives Young Audiences to Theaters Across India

variety.com:

Naman Ramachandran Payal Kapadia‘s “All We Imagine as Light” has struck a chord with young Indian audiences, exploring themes of urban displacement and chosen family that resonate deeply with a generation navigating life in metropolitan cities. “All We Imagine as Light” explores contemporary working-class Mumbai through the lives of three women.

The story centers on two roommates working at a city hospital – head nurse Prabha (Kani Kusruti) and recent hire Anu (Divya Prabha) – alongside their co-worker, cook Parvaty (Chhaya Kadam).

The narrative follows their interconnected lives as Prabha, whose husband from an arranged marriage lives in Germany, navigates attention from a hospital doctor; Anu conducts a secret romance with a Muslim man against her strict Hindu family’s wishes; and Parvaty faces sudden eviction from her home. “It is a story about finding your feet in a big city, the challenges of navigating loneliness, and the beauty of sisterhood and friendship,” distributor Spirit Media told Variety, explaining the film’s particular appeal to younger viewers. “These experiences in many ways echo the journey of many young people trying to make sense of life in today’s fast-paced world.” Its multi-language format with subtitles has proven successful across different regions, with Spirit Media noting that “the word of mouth of the film really strengthened week on week and travelled widely through social media.” The film’s momentum in India accelerated following its Golden Globe nominations for Best Director and Best Film Non-English Language, enabling Spirit Media to expand its theatrical footprint to second-tier cities across the country.