Cannes 2025: Urmimala Boruah And Snigdha Baruah’s Unscripted Journey To The Red Carpet; From Assam To Cannes

In a year marked by India's growing cultural presence at the Cannes Film Festival, one of the most quietly powerful stories emerged not from the industry elite, but from the heart of Assam. Urmimala Boruah and her daughter, Fashion Model Snigdha Baruah, made history as the first Indian mother-daughter duo to walk the Cannes red carpet together-an achievement that speaks less of glamour and more of grit.

Their presence at Cannes was not backed by a major studio, nor was it shaped by traditional industry pathways. It was the culmination of years of perseverance, self-belief, and an unshakable bond. Hailing from Dibrugarh, a town in upper Assam better known for its tea gardens than its ties to cinema, Urmimala and Snigdha's journey stands as a rare story of rural voices making it to global platforms.

"We came here not just for ourselves, but for every woman who has ever been told her dreams are too big.Cannes was never the destination. Telling our stories was." said Urmimala, who lost her husband early and raised Snigdha as a single mother.

Their Journey , which explores Assamese folklore through a contemporary lens, screened as part of an associated independent showcase. But it was their walk on the red carpet-hand in hand, dressed in symbolic attire rooted in cultural heritage-that captured global attention.

Urmimala wore a custom gown inspired by the banyan tree. In her words, "The banyan is ancient. It shelters, it survives, it supports life around it-from birds to insects. That's the kind of mother I've tried to be." The textures and patterns on the gown mimicked the colours of lifeforms found within the banyan's ecosystem.

Snigdha's gown paid homage to the Asian fan, a subtle yet powerful nod to Asian tradition and femininity. "We wanted it to be a love letter," she said. "To Asia, to our heritage, and to the idea that beauty doesn't always scream-it can whisper and still be heard."

This year, they were not alone. Eight winners from UMB Pageants-a platform founded by Urmimala to empower women beyond the ramp-joined them in Cannes. Each of them came from different socio-economic backgrounds, many stepping onto an international platform for the first time.

Their presence wasn't just symbolic. "When we started UMB, it was about telling women: you don't need anyone to hand you the mic. You already have a voice," said Urmimala. "Now, they're walking alongside us, telling their stories."

Snigdha, who began acting in school plays in Assam, credits her mother's resilience for her own confidence. "Delhi was hard when we first moved," she recalled. "We worked multiple jobs just to make ends meet. But even then, my mother would say-'we're not just surviving, we're building.'"

The two continue to advocate for increased regional representation in Indian culture at global platforms like Cannes. "There's a tendency to centralize the Indian narrative around a few cities or studios," Urmimala noted. "But there are hundreds of languages, thousands of traditions, and even more stories waiting to be told."

At Cannes, where high fashion and film often dominate headlines, the appearance of a mother and daughter from Dibrugarh was a gentle reminder that the red carpet can and should be walked by those who've paved their own path.

As they left the festival, Urmimala reflected, "We didn't come from privilege. We came from persistence. That's what got us here."