‘Wanted to create her own identity’: Orizzonti award winner Anuparna Roy’s father

Filmmaker Anuparna Roy, who received the best director award at the Venice International Film Festival for her ‘Song of Forgotten Trees’, had never shown much love and passion for movies during her school days, but was determined to carve her own niche, her father said on Tuesday.

Beaming with pride for his daughter’s achievement, Brahmananda Roy is eager to welcome the young IT professional-turned-movie director to their home in West Bengal’s Paschim Bardhaman district.

“We had not noticed much love and passion for films during her school days. But she was studious. Her ambition for films came to the fore later when she started her career in the IT sector. She had a resolve to create her own identity,” he told PTI over the phone.

Her father said the family members were initially upset over her decision to take the plunge into film direction and even prophesied that she was “making a mistake”.

“When we first came to know about her decision, we thought it was a gamble. She had no previous experience in filmmaking. But her dedication, zeal and perseverance gradually made us confident about her ability,” he said.

Her mother Manisha Roy recalled how Anuparna gave “100 per cent to anything she wanted to achieve”.

The filmmaker made history by becoming the first Indian to win the best director award in the festival’s Orizzonti section for her movie ‘Songs of Forgotten Trees’.

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose and the chief minister also congratulated the young filmmaker.

Recalling her initial days of struggle as an independent filmmaker, Brahmananda said, “She had to invest a sizeable amount of her salary to make films. I also chipped in. She had faced difficulties in organising everything during the pre-shoot days. Outdoor shootings were a challenge for her on many occasions. She, however, got help from the local administration and authorities to wrap up the shoots.”