The 82nd Venice International Film Festival took place in Italy between August 27 and September 6, 2025. Song of Forgotten Trees, directed by Indian filmmaker Anuparna Roy, was one of the 19 films that were screened in the Horizons (Orizzonti) category. The movie examines the lives of two migrant women in Mumbai whilst they deal with isolation, surviving, and ephemeral friendships.
Anuparna Roy became the first Indian to receive the category’s Best Director Award, making history on a worldwide scale. The Orizzonti category supports up-and-coming films, debuts, young artists, independent productions, and obscure names that have the potential to make a significant impact. Roy called the winning moment for her film, Song of Forgotten Trees, which was the sole Indian film in the category, ‘surreal.’
Anuparna Roy’s victory was celebrated by Priyanka Chopra, who will appear in SS Rajamouli’s upcoming movie. She shared a post of the director and commented, ‘Congratulations’ on her Instagram stories.
Songs of Forgotten Trees chronicles the lives of two migrant women who unexpectedly cross paths in the restless expanse of Mumbai. Thooya, a budding actress who must make uncomfortable concessions, rents out her sugar daddy’s opulent flat to Swetha, a recent arrival to the city and corporate professional. A tenuous empathy develops between them as their lives start to intersect, subtly exposing tales of connection, feminism, and survival in a city that never sleeps. Starring in the movie are Ravi Maan, Lovely Singh, Bhushan Shimpi, Sumi Baghel, and Naaz Shaikh.
