Anuparna Roy returns to Venice with Lovers in the Blue Night, a story of migrants and forbidden desire

Writer-director Anuparna Roy draws inspiration from her childhood memories and personal experiences to create her films. Growing up, she was fascinated by Ameena, an elderly domestic help at her granduncle's home in Purulia, West Bengal. After years of wondering why Ameena spent so little time with her husband Kareem, Roy discovered that Kareem was gay and their marriage was a social coping mechanism.

Roy reimagines their story in her sophomore feature, Lovers in the Blue Night, set in present-day Mumbai and portraying the characters as migrants. This film marks Roy's return to the Venice International Film Festival, where she won the Best Director Award for her debut feature, Songs of Forgotten Trees. Roy's casting choices are personal, preferring to work with friends and give opportunities to talented individuals.

The film's ensemble cast includes Neelima Sharma, Pritam Pilania, Bhushan Shimpi, Jatin Sarin, Kajal Keshav, and Vinod Suryavanshi. For Roy, the constant challenge is to create something unique and not yet seen on screen. She plans to continue making personal films, including stories about dysfunctional marriages and coming-of-age dramas exploring sexual awakening.