Debut filmmaker Anuparna Roy, winner of the Orizzonti Award for Best Director at the 82nd Venice Film Festival for her film Songs of Forgotten Trees, has defended her remarks on Palestine amid growing controversy, and revealed that noted filmmaker Anurag Kashyap had advised her against speaking on the subject.
Anuparna Roy defends Palestine remarks after winning Best Director at Venice; says, “It was said with the intention of pointing out the injustice around the world”
Speaking to ANI, Roy said, “I meant whatever I said at the festival. It was said with the intention of pointing out the injustice around the world. If I support Palestine, if I am standing against injustice, it doesn’t make me less Indian. People are thinking that I have spoken about it for the first time, but it’s not that. I mentioned Palestine while receiving an award in Russia. This doesn’t mean that I will not talk about the genocides or the violence in Nepal.”
She added, “I request everyone to celebrate the achievement and not ‘politicise’ it in such a manner. I don’t represent anything.”
Roy also described being discouraged from making such remarks. “People are claiming that I made the comments under the influence of Anurag Kashyap, but I was strictly advised by my producers, my mentor, and Anurag Kashyap himself that I don’t need to talk about it. I went beyond their advice and said it all. Now I understand why they asked me to avoid it. Things have been going completely against me. People are even calling me a traitor. But I am not angry at all. I made one film and I will make another one,” she said.
She added, “I will continue to speak against injustice. I believe such things should come into discussion, whether it is Kashmir, Murshidabad, or Gujarat.”
Regarding her acceptance speech at Venice, Roy stood firmly by her stance: “Every child deserves peace, freedom, liberation and Palestinians are no exception… It’s a responsibility at the moment to stand by Palestine…. I might upset my country, but it doesn’t matter to me anymore.”
Songs of Forgotten Trees was the only Indian film in Venice’s Orizzonti section, exploring the lives of two migrant women in Mumbai as they deal with loneliness, survival, and fleeting connections.
Also Read : Anuparna Roy becomes first-time director to win Orizzonti award at Venice for songs of Forgotten Trees
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