Anuparna Roy’s debut feature film Songs of Forgotten Trees explores the singular bond between two migrant women in Mumbai, a sex worker and an actor, both of whom are chasing their cherished dreams and desires in the demanding megapolis, while still struggling and compromising to survive amid its ruthlessness and insensitivity.
Roy’s narrative intertwines the past and the present and plays inventively with the element of memory. Silences are resonant with meaning. A lilting song about forgetfulness and remembrances lingers on, as does cinematographer Debjit Samanta’s eloquent imagery. The intimate vignettes of a shared life in the interiors of the flat are juxtaposed against long shots of the two in the balcony. The visuals say a lot more than words, convey their essential isolation and alienation despite having each other for company.
An intricate and intriguing tale of female friendship and solidarity, Songs of Forgotten Trees is a wonderful and worthy spiritual successor to Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light.
Anuparna Roy
Anuparna Roy is a filmmaker and writer from Narayanpur, Purulia (West Bengal). A British English Literature graduate from Burdwan University, she began as an assistant director on short films, including an NFDC India production. Her debut short, Run to the River, screened and won awards at several international festivals. Her debut feature, Songs of Forgotten Trees, won the Best Director Award in the Orizzonti section at the Venice Film Festival 2025.
