Indian cinema made a powerful impact at the 18th Asian Film Awards, with All We Imagine As Light and Santosh securing major wins. The prestigious event took place on Sunday at the Xiqu Centre in the West Kowloon Cultural District, Hong Kong, celebrating outstanding achievements in Asian filmmaking.
Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light Wins Best Film
The Asian Film Awards announced the winners on its official website, confirming that Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light won the coveted Best Film award. Competing against strong contenders such as Black Dog (China), Exhuma (South Korea), Teki Cometh (Japan), and Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In (Hong Kong), Kapadia’s film emerged victorious.
Kapadia, who had already made history by winning the Grand Prix at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, expressed her excitement about receiving this honor in Hong Kong. She said, “We have such amazing work coming out of Asia, and we are so proud to be part of that community. It was already special to be nominated, and it’s so great to win this award.”
Her film, a Malayalam-Hindi drama, tells the heartfelt story of two Kerala-born nurses, Prabha (Kani Kusruti) and Anu (Divya Prabha), as they navigate life in Mumbai along with their friend and cook, Parvaty (Chhaya Kadam). Notably, All We Imagine As Light became the first Indian film to win the Grand Prix at Cannes, further solidifying its place in cinematic history.
Shahana Goswami Wins Best Actress for Santosh
Actor Shahana Goswami claimed the Best Actress award for her performance in Santosh, while director Sandhya Suri took home the Best New Director award. Reflecting on her experience, Goswami admitted that overcoming self-doubt was one of her biggest challenges.
“The hardest part was believing I could play the role because I was nervous about making it feel real. You always have this imposter syndrome, but winning an award like this helps you gain confidence in yourself,” she said.
Santosh follows the journey of a recently widowed woman who unexpectedly takes over her late husband’s job as a police constable. As she steps into an unfamiliar world, she finds herself deeply involved in investigating a young girl’s murder. The film is a collaborative production between India, the UK, France, and Germany.
Goswami triumphed over strong competition in the Best Actress category, surpassing nominees Kani Kusruti (All We Imagine As Light), Sylvia Chang (Daughter’s Daughter), Kawai Yuumi (Desert of Namibia), and Kim Go-eun (Exhuma).
Sandhya Suri Takes Best New Director Award
British-Indian filmmaker Sandhya Suri won the Best New Director award, beating a competitive lineup that included Yamanaka Yoko (Desert of Namibia), Sora Neo (Happyend), Dong Zijian (My Friend An Delie), and Truong Minh Quý (Viêt and Nam).
With these impressive victories, Indian cinema once again proved its growing influence on the global stage. The success of All We Imagine As Light and Santosh highlights the power of compelling storytelling and strong performances, earning well-deserved recognition at the Asian Film Awards 2025.
