All We Imagine as Light – Grand Prix Winner on BFI Player

Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine as Light has become one of the most celebrated Indian films of 2024. A lyrical drama set in Mumbai, it follows the intertwined lives of three women working as nurses. The film won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival and has drawn widespread praise from critics. For viewers wondering where to watch, who stars in it, and what makes it significant, this guide brings together the key details.

Where to Watch All We Imagine as Light

For audiences in the United Kingdom, the most straightforward way to watch All We Imagine as Light is through BFI Player. The streaming service offers the film in its original Malayalam with English subtitles. According to BFI’s official page, the film became available to stream from 17 February. The listing also notes that the film contains strong sexual content, so viewers should check the content advisory before watching.

As for global streaming, no major platform deals have been officially announced. The film is not currently available on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, or other international services. Theatrical releases have taken place in India and at select festivals, but a wider rollout—particularly in North America and Australia—remains unconfirmed. U.S. distribution is handled by Sideshow and Janus Films, but no specific release date has been set for American audiences.

• All We Imagine as Light is Payal Kapadia’s first narrative feature after her documentary A Night of Knowing Nothing.
• The film premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival during Directors’ Fortnight and won the Grand Prix.
• Set in Mumbai, the story follows three nurses navigating personal and social struggles.
• Critics have praised its dreamlike, gentle portrayal of urban life and female friendship.

Who Directed All We Imagine as Light and Who Stars in It?

Director: Payal Kapadia

Payal Kapadia wrote and directed All We Imagine as Light. It marks her fiction feature debut, following her documentary A Night of Knowing Nothing, which won the Golden Eye award at Cannes in 2021. Kapadia has been recognized as a distinctive voice in Indian independent cinema, known for blending documentary-like observation with dreamlike storytelling.

Cast

The film features a relatively small but accomplished cast. Leading the story are Kani Kusruti as Prabha, Divya Prabha as Anu, and Chhaya Kadam as Parvaty. Other notable actors include Hridhu Haroon as Shiaz, Azees Nedumangad as Dr. Manoj, Lovleen Mishra as Dr. Supriya, Madhu Raja as Kaki, Kashish Singh as Young Nurse, and Anandsami as Drowned Man / Husband.

Language

The film is primarily in Malayalam, with some dialogue in Hindi and Marathi. For international viewers, the BFI Player version and festival screenings include English subtitles. The Malayalam title of the film is Prabhayaay Ninachathellam (പ്രഭയായ് നിനച്ചതെല്ലാം).

Is It Based on a Book?

According to the available information, All We Imagine as Light is not adapted from a specific novel or book. The screenplay is an original work by Payal Kapadia. While some reports have speculated about a literary basis, no confirmed source has been identified.

What Is All We Imagine as Light About and Why Is It Significant?

Plot Summary

The story centers on three women in Mumbai whose lives intersect through work, housing insecurity, family pressures, and private longing. Prabha is a hardworking nurse whose husband left for Germany soon after their arranged marriage. She receives an unexpected gift from him, and her life is complicated by a doctor at her hospital who is interested in her. Anu, her younger roommate and colleague, is involved in a secret relationship with a Muslim man, which she must hide from her strict Hindu family. Parvaty is a coworker and widowed woman facing eviction from her home by property developers.

The narrative has been described as a lyric, emotionally rich portrait of modern working-class Mumbai, exploring friendship, sisterhood, isolation, yearning, and the tensions of class, caste, religion, and urban life. For more on the film’s reception, read the Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine as Light article.

Why the Film Stands Out

Several factors have contributed to the film’s significance. Payal Kapadia’s shift from documentary to fiction marks a notable evolution for the Indian independent filmmaker. The film’s success at Cannes—being the first Indian film to win the Grand Prix—highlights the growing international recognition of Malayalam cinema. Its focus on migrant nurses sheds light on a rarely told segment of Mumbai’s labor force. Critics have also compared the dreamlike visual style and gentle pacing to the works of Apichatpong Weerasethakul.

Reviews and Critical Reception of All We Imagine as Light

Rotten Tomatoes

On the review aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes, All We Imagine as Light holds a 100% positive rating from 158 critics, with an average score of 8.5/10. The critics’ consensus describes it as a “lustrous achievement” that captures modern India with the spontaneity of a candid photograph. You can see the full aggregation on Rotten Tomatoes.

Major Accolades

The film won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival in 2024, making Payal Kapadia the first Indian filmmaker to receive that honor, according to BFI’s listing. Beyond Cannes, Sight & Sound named it the Best Film of 2024, and The New York Times ranked it #1 on its Best Movies of 2024 list.

Notable Reviews

The Guardian described the film as “dreamlike and gentle… a film that lingers.” The review emphasized its emotional subtlety and visual poetry. Read the full review on The Guardian. The IMDb synopsis notes that the plot follows Nurse Prabha’s routine, which is troubled when she receives an unexpected gift from her estranged husband. The IMDb rating stands at 6.8/10 as of early 2025.

Key Milestones for All We Imagine as Light

1. Early 2023: Principal photography completed in Mumbai.
2. May 2024: World premiere at Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, where it wins the Grand Prix.
3. Late 2024: Theatrical release in India and select festivals.
4. Early 2025: Streaming release on BFI Player (UK); further distribution pending.

What We Know vs. What’s Still Unconfirmed

Why All We Imagine as Light Matters

Payal Kapadia’s move from documentary to fiction represents a significant step for Indian independent cinema. The film’s international recognition highlights the growing visibility of Malayalam-language films on the global stage. Its focus on the lives of migrant nurses in Mumbai brings attention to a segment of the city’s workforce that is rarely portrayed in mainstream cinema. The dreamlike, patient visual style has drawn favorable comparisons to the work of Thai filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul, signaling a new direction for narrative filmmaking in India. For an overview of the film, visit All We Imagine as Light — overview.

Notable Quotes and Sources

“All We Imagine As Light is dreamlike and gentle… a film that lingers.”

The Guardian review

“All We Imagine as Light is a 2024 drama film written and directed by Payal Kapadia.”

Wikipedia summary

“Nurse Prabha’s routine is troubled when she receives an unexpected gift from her estranged husband.”

IMDb plot

Summary: All We Imagine as Light — An Award-Winning Drama

All We Imagine as Light is a critically acclaimed 2024 drama directed by Payal Kapadia, centered on three women navigating life and work in Mumbai. The film is notable for winning the Grand Prix at Cannes, its strong reviews, and its availability to stream via BFI Player in the UK. For further background, see the All We Imagine as Light — overview or read about Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine as Light in more detail.

Frequently Asked Questions