The 82nd Golden Globe Awards brought mixed emotions for Indian cinema as Payal Kapadia with ‘All We Imagine As Light’ missed out on both the categories it was nominated for.

Despite the setback, the film and its director have achieved a historic milestone, leaving an indelible mark on global cinema.

Advertisement

Kapadia was nominated in the highly competitive Best Director category but lost to Brady Corbet for his film ‘The Brutalist’.

The category featured a stellar lineup of directors, including Jacques Audiard (‘Emilia Perez’), Sean Baker (‘Anora’), Edward Berger (‘Conclave’), and Coralie Fargeat (‘The Substance’). In the Best Non-English Language Motion Picture category, ‘All We Imagine As Light’ was also a contender but the award went to Jacques Audiard’s ‘Emilia Perez’.

Though she did not win, Kapadia’s nomination as the first Indian filmmaker in the Best Director category at the Golden Globes was a proud moment for Indian cinema.

Reflecting on the recognition, Kapadia had earlier expressed her gratitude, calling it a celebration of the passion and hard work of her entire team.

‘All We Imagine As Light’ follows the intertwined lives of two women, Prabha, a nurse dealing with personal struggles, and Anu, her young roommate seeking intimacy with her boyfriend. A trip to a serene beach town forces them to confront their desires and inner conflicts.

Also Read: Aamir Khan says Khushi Kapoor channels Sridevi in ‘Loveyapa’!

The film, starring Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, Chhaya Kadam, Anand Sami, and Hridhu Haroon, is currently streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.

The film premiered in the competition section of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, marking the first Indian entry in the festival’s main segment in three decades. The last Indian film to achieve this feat was Shaji N. Karun’s ‘Swaham’ in 1994. Kapadia’s journey to the Golden Globes has been a significant achievement for Indian cinema, shining a spotlight on its storytelling prowess on a global stage.

Kapadia attended the awards ceremony in a stunning black handwoven silk jumpsuit by designer Payal Khandwala, accented with a bold red detail. She maintained her poise throughout the evening, applauding the winners and celebrating their success with a smile.

This recognition adds to India’s growing influence at the Golden Globes. In 2023, ‘Naatu Naatu’ from SS Rajamouli’s ‘RRR’ won Best Original Song, though the film lost the Best Non-English Language Motion Picture award to ‘Argentina, 1985’.

The 2025 Golden Globes, broadcast in the United States on Sunday night and streamed live in India on Lionsgate Play on Monday, captured the attention of audiences worldwide.