BAFTA Film Awards 2025: Indian Films 'All We Imagine As Light' And 'Santosh' Earn Nominations

Payal Kapadia's film "All We Imagine As Light" has been nominated for the Best Film Not in English Language at the 2025 BAFTA Film Awards. The British Academy recently announced nominees across 25 categories for the upcoming event. Competing with Kapadia's Malayalam-Hindi film are "Kneecap" from Ireland, Germany's "The Seed of the Sacred Fig," France's "Emilia Perez," and Brazil's "I'm Still Here." Additionally, Sandhya Suri's "Santosh" and Karan Kandhari's "Sister Midnight" received nominations for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer.

Indian-origin British actor Dev Patel is also among the nominees for his directorial debut, "Monkey Man." Other contenders in this category include Luna Carmoon for "Hoard" and Rich Peppiatt for "Kneecap." Despite not winning at the Golden Globes earlier this month, "All We Imagine As Light" continues to receive recognition. It recently won Best International Film at the Gotham Awards and topped Sight and Sound magazine's annual list of 50 best movies of the year.

The film features Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, and Chhaya Kadam, exploring themes of love and loneliness in Mumbai through three women: Malayali nurses Prabha and Anu, and their friend Parvati, a cook. Last year, it made history as the first Indian film to win the Grand Prix trophy at Cannes. Meanwhile, Suri's thriller "Santosh," set in Uttar Pradesh, premiered at Cannes in 2024 under Un Certain Regard. It is Britain's Oscar entry in the international feature category.

"Santosh," starring Shahana Goswami and Sunita Rajwar, follows a newly widowed housewife who inherits her late husband's police constable job and becomes involved in a murder investigation. Kandhari's "Sister Midnight" is described as a dark physical comedy featuring Radhika Apte as Uma. Uma is a disillusioned newlywed with no domestic skills living in her husband's small flat.

The plot reveals Uma trapped in an endless domestic routine until she ventures into the city alone to explore new desires. Patel’s directorial debut with "Monkey Man" draws inspiration from Lord Hanuman’s legend. Set in Mumbai, it stars Patel as Kid seeking revenge against corrupt leaders responsible for his mother's death while oppressing vulnerable people.

The movie includes Indian actors like Sikander Kher, Sobhita Dhulipala, Makarand Deshpande, Pitobash, and Vipin Sharma. Ralph Fiennes' drama "Conclave" leads BAFTA nominations followed by Adrien Brody-starring "The Brutalist" alongside "Emilia Perez." The 2025 BAFTA Film Awards will take place on February 16.