Purulia-born debut filmmaker Anuparna Roy has created history by becoming the first Indian director to win the Best Director Award in the Orizzonti (Horizons) section at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival. Her film, Songs of Forgotten Trees, earned her international acclaim. But beyond this huge achievement and her movie, it's her incredible personal journey, from a small tribal village in West Bengal to one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world, that's grabbing everyone's attention and winning hearts. Coming from a non-filmy school background, she became the first Indian director to receive this award.
West Bengal to Venice: Anuparna's journey
Let's start from the beginning. Anuparna grew up in Narayanpur, a small tribal village in the Purulia district of West Bengal. She comes from a middle-class, non-filmy background, where becoming a filmmaker was not just rare, it was unheard of. Her early life was rooted in simplicity, surrounded by a community that held conservative views, especially when it came to the ambitions of women.
She completed her schooling at local institutions, starting from Narayanpur Primary School, then Ranipur Colliery High School, and later at Naopara High School. She went on to pursue English Honours at Kulti College in Paschim Bardhaman and later earned a Master’s degree in Mass Communication in Delhi. Throughout her academic life, Anuparna nurtured a love for storytelling, books, and cinema, passions that quietly shaped her future.
Before venturing into films, Anuparna worked in the IT sector, holding a well-paying job in sales. But her heart was always set on storytelling through cinema. In 2022, she made the bold decision to quit her stable job and move to Mumbai, determined to chase her filmmaking dreams. The decision shocked her family and community, who initially discouraged her, fearing backlash from their conservative surroundings.
Life in Mumbai wasn’t easy. With limited resources and no industry connections, Anuparna began writing the script for Songs of Forgotten Trees inside her small rental apartment in Azad Nagar. That same apartment later became the primary shooting location for the film. “We cooked, we shot, we shouted,” she recalled during the conversation with The Hollywood Reporter India. She described the intimate and intense process of creating the film with a tight-knit team.
Her two lead actors moved in with her during the three-month shoot, and together they brought her vision to life. With no big studio backing, expensive sets, or star power, the film was made through sheer grit, collaboration, and creative passion.
How Anuparna's parents reacted to it?
Her parents, Brahmananda and Manisha Roy, were initially skeptical. They objected to her leaving a secure job and investing her savings into filmmaking. At one point, they even mocked her dream, questioning if she thought she could be the next Satyajit Ray. “She said she can’t be Ray, but she wouldn’t stop working in films,” her father told Indian Express. Eventually, their doubts turned to pride as they watched their daughter stand on an international stage.
From a quiet village in Purulia to the red carpet in Venice, Anuparna Roy proved how far determination can take you.
West Bengal to Venice: Anuparna's journey
Let's start from the beginning. Anuparna grew up in Narayanpur, a small tribal village in the Purulia district of West Bengal. She comes from a middle-class, non-filmy background, where becoming a filmmaker was not just rare, it was unheard of. Her early life was rooted in simplicity, surrounded by a community that held conservative views, especially when it came to the ambitions of women.
She completed her schooling at local institutions, starting from Narayanpur Primary School, then Ranipur Colliery High School, and later at Naopara High School. She went on to pursue English Honours at Kulti College in Paschim Bardhaman and later earned a Master’s degree in Mass Communication in Delhi. Throughout her academic life, Anuparna nurtured a love for storytelling, books, and cinema, passions that quietly shaped her future.
Before venturing into films, Anuparna worked in the IT sector, holding a well-paying job in sales. But her heart was always set on storytelling through cinema. In 2022, she made the bold decision to quit her stable job and move to Mumbai, determined to chase her filmmaking dreams. The decision shocked her family and community, who initially discouraged her, fearing backlash from their conservative surroundings.
Life in Mumbai wasn’t easy. With limited resources and no industry connections, Anuparna began writing the script for Songs of Forgotten Trees inside her small rental apartment in Azad Nagar. That same apartment later became the primary shooting location for the film. “We cooked, we shot, we shouted,” she recalled during the conversation with The Hollywood Reporter India. She described the intimate and intense process of creating the film with a tight-knit team.
Her two lead actors moved in with her during the three-month shoot, and together they brought her vision to life. With no big studio backing, expensive sets, or star power, the film was made through sheer grit, collaboration, and creative passion.
How Anuparna's parents reacted to it?
Her parents, Brahmananda and Manisha Roy, were initially skeptical. They objected to her leaving a secure job and investing her savings into filmmaking. At one point, they even mocked her dream, questioning if she thought she could be the next Satyajit Ray. “She said she can’t be Ray, but she wouldn’t stop working in films,” her father told Indian Express. Eventually, their doubts turned to pride as they watched their daughter stand on an international stage.
From a quiet village in Purulia to the red carpet in Venice, Anuparna Roy proved how far determination can take you.
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