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Journalism of Courage
The international praise that followed Anuparna Roy’s historic win at the 82nd Venice Film Festival has been followed by a wave of social media criticism after the filmmaker voiced support for children in Palestine during her acceptance speech. According to her parents they are deeply disturbed by the manner Roy is being targeted in social media for her remark about children in Palestine.
Roy made history as the first Indian to win the Best Director award in the Orizzonti section at Venice for her film Song of Forgotten Trees. At the ceremony she said in an emotional address: “Every child deserves peace, freedom, liberation and Palestine is no exception. I don’t want any claps for this, it’s a responsibility. Think for a moment and stand beside Palestine. I might upset my country but it doesn’t matter to me anymore.”
Speaking to The Indian Express over phone, from their home in Kulti, Paschim Bardhaman district, her parents said they are “deeply disturbed and worried” by what they describe as an unwarranted campaign against their daughter.
“We are deeply disturbed and concerned about what is happening after our daughter has made the country proud. On social media my daughter is being targeted for her remarks on the plight of children in Palestine. Various sections of people are targeting her for her remarks and alleging she is standing with a particular community. We have spoken to her about the issue. She is in Mumbai and is very busy. But she too is unhappy about the issue,” said Bramhananda Roy (63), Anuparna’s father.
Her father insisted his daughter’s words were misinterpreted. “If you listen to the speech carefully she said, ‘Every child has the right to peace, freedom and liberation and Palestine is no exception.’ She did not speak about any community. She spoke of every child in the world. She did not say anything wrong,”
Manisha Roy, 57, Anuparna’s mother, echoed the sentiment and appealed for calm. “Why are they all targeting her? Is it wrong to speak about the welfare of children? She just expressed her opinion. Everyone has the right to have his or her opinion. She is a young and upright human being. She made us proud and the country proud. This is how a section of people treat such a person?” she asked.
The filmmaker’s roots are in Purulia district. Anuparna grew up in Narayanpur village, passed her Madhyamik from Ranipur Colliery School and Higher Secondary from Napara High School. “She did her graduation with honours in English from Kulti College. Since childhood, she has been fond of reading books and writing. Then she went to Delhi to study mass communication. She then suddenly moved to Mumbai, where she did a number of jobs, including in IT sales,” said Manisha.
“She struggled so hard to keep her passion alive. She shared a room with other girls and invested all she earned into her art,” Brahmanada said. “Now she needs support to take her achievements to new heights. Instead of that she is being criticised. It is sad. As parents we are worried and disturbed.”
Anuparna’s oeuvre includes the short film Run to the River and her acclaimed feature Song of Forgotten Trees, which depicts the story of two women who share an apartment in Mumbai and develop a deep connection despite their different backgrounds. This was when a migrant actress in Mumbai sublets her apartment.
The film’s Venice honour has been widely celebrated by critics and cinephiles, even as the director grapples with the fallout from her brief political remark.
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