Venice Film Festival Winner Anuparna Roy Defends Palestine Remarks, Reveals Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap Urged Caution
Venice, Italy – Anuparna Roy, who recently made history by winning the Orizzonti Award for Best Director at the 82nd venice Film Festival for her film Songs of Forgotten Trees, is defending her on-stage commentary regarding Palestine, despite facing backlash and being labeled a “traitor” by some. Roy revealed that she intentionally spoke out against injustice, even against the advice of her producers, mentor, and filmmaker Anurag Kashyap.
roy’s remarks, delivered while accepting the award, sparked controversy with her statement: “Every child deserves peace, freedom, liberation and Palestinians are no exception… It’s a obligation at the moment to stand by Palestine…. I might upset my country,but it doesn’t matter to me anymore.” (as quoted by Deadline).
Speaking to ANI, Roy reaffirmed her stance, stating, “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.” She also noted she had previously voiced support for Palestine while accepting an award in Russia and would continue to speak out against violence and genocide globally,including in Nepal.
Roy emphasized her desire for her achievement to be celebrated, not “politicised,” and clarified, “I don’t represent anything.”
She disclosed that Kashyap specifically advised her to avoid mentioning Palestine during the ceremony. “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 whent beyond thier advice and said it all. Now I understand why they asked me to avoid it. Things have been going completely against me,” Roy explained.
Despite the negative reactions, Roy remains resolute.”But I am not angry at all. I made one film and I will make another one,” she said, adding that she will “continue to speak against injustice” in places like Kashmir, Murshidabad, and Gujarat.
Songs of Forgotten Trees, the only Indian title in Venice’s Orizzonti section, tells the story of two migrant women in Mumbai navigating loneliness, survival, and connection.