Veteran actor Shabana Azmi has voiced her concerns over the challenges faced by Indian parallel cinema, particularly highlighting the plight of Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine as Light. The internationally celebrated film, which boasts two Golden Globe nominations and a Critics’ Choice Awards nomination for Best Foreign Language Film, is struggling to find its footing in Indian theatres, overshadowed by the blockbuster release of Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2: The Rule.
Speaking at the ADC (Art Design Culture Collective) event on Thursday, hosted by the NGO KHUSHII—founded by cricket legend Kapil Dev—Azmi emphasised the need for systemic changes to support independent films.
Azmi pointed out that smaller theatres and distributors need to unite to provide independent films with the space they deserve:
“What is really needed is a system of theatrical release and distribution that will ensure these films actually get seen in smaller theatres where they don’t have to pay the huge rentals of mainstream films. There is a whole ecosystem that needs to be followed up to make something extraordinary possible,” she explained.
Despite All We Imagine as Light receiving global acclaim—including the prestigious Grand Prize at Cannes—the film’s limited release in India has underscored the difficulties independent cinema faces in competing with mainstream spectacles.
Azmi also urged audiences to support such films in cinemas rather than waiting for their OTT release:
“At the moment, there is this feeling that the film will come to OTT anyway, so even if we miss it in theatres, it doesn’t matter. That somehow has to change. People need to go back to cinemas, not just for big spectacles but to appreciate films that tell stories in unique ways,” she said.
Acknowledging the appeal of mainstream cinema, Azmi stressed the importance of cultivating audiences for films like Kapadia’s, which offer distinct narratives.
“Oh, but you cannot stop making mainstream films because you want to create audiences for different kinds of cinema. But the fact that it has been applauded all over the world shows that there is a place that is available. We have to cultivate the possibility of that film reaching the right audiences,” she told ANI.
All We Imagine as Light, celebrated for its poetic storytelling and innovative filmmaking, has garnered critical acclaim worldwide, cementing its place as a landmark in Indian parallel cinema. However, its reception in India remains a stark reminder of the hurdles faced by independent films, particularly in the shadow of blockbuster giants like Pushpa 2.
