Anuparna Roy’s Lovers in the Blue Night Wins NETPAC Award at Venice
The filmmaker receives the Best Asian Film honour for her Hindi-Sylheti Bengali-Marathi feature at the prestigious festival.
KOLKATA, Sep 14: Filmmaker Anuparna Roy has won the NETPAC Award for Best Asian Film at the Venice International Film Festival for her feature Lovers in the Blue Night, marking another major achievement in her growing international career.
The film, which blends Hindi, Sylheti Bengali and Marathi, explores the lives of people living on the margins of society and examines themes including migration, inequality, identity and belonging.
The recognition comes after Roy’s earlier success at Venice, where she won the Best Director award in the Orizzonti section for her previous film. Her return to the festival with Lovers in the Blue Night has further established her as an emerging voice in Indian independent cinema.
Set against the backdrop of Mumbai, the film follows a Bangladeshi couple facing displacement and social challenges. Roy uses their experiences to explore questions of identity, love and prejudice while presenting a deeply personal view of migration and urban life.
The NETPAC recognition adds to the film’s international visibility and strengthens Roy’s position among Indian filmmakers receiving attention on the global festival circuit.
