Following the theatrical release of Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine as Light, which won the prestigious Grand Prix at the 77th Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, intimate scenes featuring actress Divya Prabha began circulating on social media. These clips have sparked a flurry of comments, many of them inappropriate, and the controversy has since become a talking point.
Divya, in an interview with Reporter TV, stated that she anticipated such reactions. "I expected this. I knew some Malayalis would react this way. However, what surprised me was the response from a section of the youth who embraced the film. Only about 10-15% of people are misrepresenting the movie, so I choose to focus on the positive side. Perhaps it will take a few generations for us to receive the kind of acceptance we envisioned," she said.
Drawing comparisons with global entertainment, Divya pointed out the hypocrisy of local audiences in her home state, saying, "Series like Game of Thrones were widely celebrated in Kerala, despite having similar scenes. I am not aware of any uproar about those. It seems the problem arises only when it involves an actor from Kerala. When outsiders do it, it’s celebrated; when it’s us, it’s treated differently."
Despite the backlash, Divya remains optimistic, stating that the film is garnering a positive response from younger audiences and that this support keeps her hopeful. All We Imagine As Light was released in India on November 22.