Payal Kapadia’s stunning, Grand Prix-winning masterpiece We imagine everything as light After a limited release in select theaters in Kerala, it has finally been released nationwide in India. Kani Kushruti and Divya Prabha are in lead roles, with Chhaya Kadam and Hridayu Haroon in important supporting roles. We imagine everything as light It explores the lives of two Malayali migrant nurses, Prabha and Anu, who work in a hospital in Mumbai and live in a flat. Both have to face different emotional crises. Prabha, who is the more responsible of the two, takes care of Anu, but begins to face her loneliness when her husband, who had moved to Germany a year ago and is completely out of touch, inexplicably visits her. Sends a rice cooker. This gesture forces her to question the state of her marriage and her emotional needs, even as she finds herself shunned by the affection of a Malayali doctor who has feelings for her. ‘All We Imagine as Light’ Movie Review: ‘Spirit of Mumbai’ gets a poignant reality check in Payal Kapadia’s beautifully haunting film,
Meanwhile, Anu is in a secret relationship with Shiaz, a Muslim man. The couple struggles to find private moments together and yearn for intimacy, yet their meetings are marked by logistical challenges and social pressures. Anu is extremely worried about the future of their relationship, especially the possible disapproval of her parents. He also did not tell Prabha about Shiaz, which increased the burden on her.
The story also introduces Parvati, a hospital employee and Prabha’s friend, who is being evicted from her house by a corrupt builder planning to redevelop the area. In the second half of the film, three women travel to Parvati’s village when she decides to leave the city for her native place. The solitude of this rural setting allows him to contemplate his concerns and confront his emotional dilemmas, even in mysterious and transformative ways.
Watch the trailer for ‘All We Imagine as Light’,
In this spoiler-filled discussion, we attempt to break down the ending We imagine everything as lightEspecially its surreal and dreamlike conclusion for one of its characters. Of course, these interpretations are subjective, so take them with a pinch of salt.
The mystery of the rescued stranger
While spending time alone near a tea stall by the beach, Prabha witnesses a commotion: villagers have found a man entangled in a fishing net, who had almost drowned. She gives him CPR, reviving him. Since the village lacks a hospital (an ironic contrast to the Mumbai hospital shown in the first half), the villagers take him to a local doctor’s house. The doctor is not home, and the elderly woman present there mistakenly assumes that Prabha is the man’s wife. Prabha, unable to speak Marathi, cannot clear up the misunderstanding. When the man regains consciousness, he has amnesia and speaks Malayalam. Prabha starts talking to him as if he is her estranged husband. Strangely, he plays along, explaining her absence and professing his love, even calling her his “light” – a poetic nod to the film’s title. This imagined interaction gives Prabha the closure she so desperately needs.
A still from All We Imagine as Light
It becomes clear that this interaction unfolds entirely in Prabha’s imagination. The question is, where does imagination begin? Logically, the fabrication could have started when the man started speaking Malayalam, as it seems impossible for a Malayali man to reach such a remote village in Maharashtra. The stranger becomes a projection of what Prabha wants to hear from her husband: an explanation of his absence, an expression of love, and a farewell.
The rice cooker he sent her from Germany symbolizes the lifeless state of their marriage – an object devoid of emotional connection. Prabha’s lack of intimacy and emotional satisfaction, coupled with her hesitation to reciprocate Dr. Manoj’s feelings, underlines her unresolved turmoil. The CPR scene probably marks the first time that Prabha is physically involved with a man after her husband leaves, increasing her vulnerability. The old woman’s misconception about her relationship with the stranger inspires Prabha to concoct this cathartic fantasy.
A still from All We Imagine as Light
By imagining the stranger as her husband, Prabha stages the conversation she desires. Hearing the assurances and apologies that she has been denied in real life, gives her the strength to move forward, overcoming the emotional burden of her failed marriage.
But was the stranger real? The character played by Anand Sami bears a striking resemblance to Hridaya Haroon’s Shiaz, which may not be a coincidence. Prabha, who had earlier seen Shiaz in an intimate moment with Anu, may unwittingly project her characteristics onto the stranger, filling in the blanks for a husband she can barely remember. This ambiguity adds to the dreamlike quality of the film.
Forest meeting of Anu and Shiaz
Shiaz follows Anu to Parvati’s village without informing others. Prabha discovers that they are kissing in the forest, but she does not confront Anu. Later, Shiaz takes Anu to a secluded cave near the waves, where centuries-old statues are carved into the rocks. It is here that Anu finally expresses her fears about her future, and doubts about whether her Hindu family will ever accept their inter-religious relationship. Shiyas admits to sharing these fears but tells her that being with her gives him the courage to face them.
A still from All We Imagine as Light
Their subsequent love affair in the forest marks a turning point in their relationship. This act, in stark contrast to their limited interactions in the city, symbolizes their mutual acceptance and the strength of their love. The forest surroundings provided the privacy and freedom that they lacked in Mumbai, where even finding an affordable private space was a challenge. However, I have to ask – couldn’t they have also bought an OYO room in the city? Divya Prabha’s original video link goes viral: Search engine platforms are flooded with leaked love-making scenes from the ‘All We Imagine as Light’ actress’ online movie.,
Prabha accepts Anu and Shiaz’s relationship.
Throughout the film, Prabha is seen doubting Anu’s ability to have a serious romantic relationship. When she sees Anu and Shiaz together, her initial reaction is irritation, possibly arising from a mixture of protective instincts and unconscious jealousy. Prabha’s loneliness and unresolved feelings towards her husband and Dr. Manoj may trigger this reaction.
A still from All We Imagine as Light
However, after an imaginary separation with her husband, Prabha’s perspective changed. She becomes more accepting of Anu and Shiaz’s relationship. Anu, who presumably sees Prabha as a motherly figure, is initially surprised that Prabha knows about Shiaz. When she introduces Shiyaz to both Prabha and Parvati, it feels like a symbolic “coming out”. The warm camaraderie they share during their final moments in the hut suggests that each woman has found a glimmer of peace: Prabha with herself, Parvati with her decision to leave the city and her long-held grudge against red tape To free herself from the coming battle she can never win, and Anu with her relationship.
(The opinions expressed in the above article are those of the author and do not reflect the stance or position of The Latest.)
