The story has to be big, not the budget : Anuparna Roy

Fresh from her breakthrough at the Venice International Film Festival for Songs of Forgotten Trees, filmmaker Anuparna Roy was in Kolkata recently - her first visit to the city after the international win. The Purulia-born director, who is quickly emerging as a striking new voice in Indian independent cinema, spoke about the struggles of indie filmmaking, her next project already on floors and why the most compelling stories for her must come from life itself. Interestingly, despite being back in Bengal after her Venice moment, Roy says she still hasn’t managed to visit her hometown Purulia yet , the landscape that continues to shape her visual imagination.

“I’m really camera shy… I’m just a filmmaker from Purulia”

Roy laughs when asked about the growing attention around her. “Of course, I’m really camera shy. But then again, I’m a director and writer, so I have nothing to deal with the camera. I believe I’m in a safe zone.”Even after the Venice win, she says she doesn’t see herself as a public figure yet. “I don’t think I’m a public figure. I’m just a filmmaker from Purulia trying to make films - new generation films.”

“My next film is already being shot”

Roy confirms that work on her second film has already begun. “I have already started shooting my next film. Soon I’m going to reveal everything. It’s a very exciting project with new-age actors - a new-age drama, very emotional and very rooted.”Her storytelling, she adds, will continue to centre human experiences. “The very personal stories I’m interested in are very life-oriented and human emotion-driven. I’m not exploring anything else except human stories.”

“I don’t believe in making something larger than life”

Spectacle, Roy says, has never been her focus. “My second film again is very emotional and human-emotion centric. I don’t believe in making something which is larger than life. I won’t be able to portray something like that. It has to be something about life.” For her, scale has little to do with money. “For me, the definition of bigger is always the story. It can’t be a ₹60-crore or ₹100-crore film. If it doesn’t have a story, it means nothing. My competition is only me because I know my flaws and where I need to improve.”

“Getting a release is harder than making the film”

Despite international recognition, Roy believes independent filmmakers in India face structural challenges. “The tougher challenge is not just making the film. The tougher challenge is getting the release of the film - getting a hall, getting a space to showcase it.” Financing is another struggle. “Nobody trusts your vision unless you’ve already made it to Cannes or Venice or Berlin. You have to achieve something first to get the attention.”

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