No matter what one’s opinion on the film – and in hindsight I do feel it is overrated—there are no two opinions on the actors specially Divya Prabha whose portrayal of an emotionally sexually adventurous left us enchanted. All We Imagine As Light is an experience that leaves us with mixed feelings. Its original fertile language of expression is incontestably exciting. But it can also be exasperating at times for the very same reason that it is exciting. The actors are all so oblivious of the camera, the film seems not to be aspiring to anything principally cinematic.
A lot of movie watchers in North India know Divya Prabha only after Payal Kapadia’s film All We Imagine As Light although Divya has been a part of the Malayalam film industry since 2013. “Just over ten years now. Looking back on my journey, I feel truly fulfilled and satisfied. These years have been filled with struggles, learning, and unlearning, all of which I now see as valuable experiences. They have shaped me, both as a person and as an artist. If I had found success and growth right at the beginning, I don’t think I would have appreciated them as much as I do now. This happiness is pure, and I believe only those who have faced struggles can truly understand and cherish it. There are some films and television projects where I look back and think, Maybe I shouldn’t have done that.But when it comes to the films I rejected, I have no regrets—I believe I made the right choices.That said, even the projects that didn’t bring me satisfaction played a role in my growth. I believe realization and learning often come from those experiences rather than just the good ones. In many ways, they shaped my journey and helped me evolve as an artist.”
The birthday girl admits All We Imagine As Light is the most important film of her career so far . “ All We Imagine As Light is the most important film in my career. But I would also say that Declaration , directed by Mahesh Narayanan, and The Family, directed by Don Palathara, are equally significant to me. My first European premiere was at the Locarno Film Festival in 2022 for the movie Declaration, where I received a lot of appreciation for my performance. In fact, Payal reached out to me for the audition for em>All We Imagine As Light after watching Ariyippu—she really liked my performance in it. I have been receiving some really good scripts after this, which is a positive sign. I also feel that people are valuing my work more than before. As an artist, when your work gets more appreciation, it naturally pushes you to do better. This recognition motivates me and makes me feel even more responsible toward my craft. We the cast and crew of All We Imagine As Light are bonded both creatively and personally over this long journey, and that connection will stay with us forever . It was a special journey for all of us.”
The past one year has been very special for Divya. “The past one year marked a milestone in my career. It’s been ten years since I started working in cinema, but this year, I truly felt a sense of accomplishment. All We Imagine As Light brought me recognition and respect as an artist, and it made me more confident than ever before. I’m incredibly grateful for that. This past one year has been a transformative chapter in my life. I would call it a magical year, largely because of the journey our film All We Imagine As Light took me on.Yes, All We Imagine As Light has been life-changing for me, both personally and professionally.”
On a personal level, All We Imagine As Light gave Divya a chance to travel extensively. “I immersed myself in different cultures and explored new places. Traveling has always broadened my perspective.Last year I attended the Cannes Film Festival for the first time, traveled to Italy just to explore the artistic side of the place , and, of course, the memorable time I spent with my amazing crew members, Payal Kapadia in particular, was a special highlight.”
