ASANSOL, WEST BENGAL — The Best Director Award in the Orizzonti (Horizons) section at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival has given great glory to India and her native state of West Bengal. Anuparna Roy, a talented filmmaker from Kulti, Asansol, won the award. Songs of Forgotten Trees, her highly praised picture, won her the highest award, which was a big step forward in her growing career.
Anuparna’s journey started in Narayanpur, a small village in the Purulia area, where she was born into a middle-class family. She went to Narayanpur Primary School for her early education, then to Ranipur Colliery High School, and ultimately to Naopara High School for her further secondary studies. Later, she migrated to Kulti in the Paschim Bardhaman district, where she graduated with an English Honors degree from Kulti College. She subsequently moved to Delhi to finish her Master’s degree in Mass Communication as part of her studies.
After she graduated, Anuparna started working for a company in Delhi that worked in IT. Her love of making movies really took off once she moved to Mumbai in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. She started out as a copywriter and then moved on to directing. Her first movie, Run to River, was shot in the lovely, natural setting of Purulia and got a lot of praise. But her second film as a director, Songs of Forgotten Trees, has won her international fame and praise from critics.
Anuparna’s family is very proud of her. She lives with her parents in Kulti right now. Her father, Brahmananda Roy, used to be the Production Manager at Eastern Coalfields Limited, while her mother, Manisha Roy, stays at home. They were both very happy. “We’re a pretty simple family. We never thought our daughter would make it to Venice and win Best Director. Brahmananda Roy remarked, “We are proud of her success.”
Manisha Roy warmly remembered her daughter’s early years, focusing on how strong-willed she was. “Anuparna always put her studies first. Back then, she never thought about movies, but she was always determined. She said, “She did whatever she wanted to do.”
People in Kulti and Narayanpur, Anuparna’s home village, are celebrating her international success. Family, friends, and neighbors are all excited for her to come back so they can give her a hero’s welcome. Her father said, “When she gets back, we’ll all go to our village and celebrate together.” Her mother said, “I’ll make all of her favorite foods when she gets home.” The best thing about this will be seeing her happy.
Anuparna Roy’s journey, from a modest classroom in Purulia to the global stage at one of the world’s most prominent film festivals, shows how passionate and determined she is. Her success is not only a personal milestone, but also a huge source of pride for Kulti, Purulia, and the whole state of West Bengal.