Sanal Kumar Sasidharan (born 8 April 1977) is an Indian poet, lawyer, and filmmaker.[2][3]
Personal life
Sanal Kumar Sasidharan was born in Perumkadavila village, Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala on 8 April 1977.[4] He graduated in Zoology from VTM NSS College Dhanuvachapuram, Thiruvananthapuram and law, then started his job as a lawyer.[5] He was associated with Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), a student organization associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party, and was the unit secretary of the ABVP during his days at the Law College. He later left ABVP over political differences, and became a critic of the BJP-controlled Central government.[6] In 2001, he formed a film society, Kazhcha Chalachithra Vedi[7] with his colleagues, for making independent movies through crowd funding.[8] He has started his film making journey by directing three short films and one feature film through crowdfunding. Later on, he directed six more critically acclaimed feature films and a documentary.[9] He was awarded the Best Director in the Kerala State Film Awards 2014.[10] He was awarded the Tiger Award in the International Film Festival Rotterdam for his film Sexy Durga.
His next film after Sexy Durga, Unmadiyude Maranam produced in 2018 has not been censored and released. The film was not screened in any major film festivals.[14]
He has made another feature film immediately after Kayattam with Tovino Thomas as hero titled, Vazhakku. Tovino Thomas has co-produced the film along with Sanal Kumar Sasidharan. The film premiered in the International Film Festival of South Asia - Seoul 2022 under the theme of “Journey to South Asia through the Movie”.[21] The film has also been screened in the International Film Festival of Kerala in the Malayalam Cinema Today section in December 2022 and received rave reviews.[22] Huge audience influx to watch Vazhakk caused the delegates to protest in front of the theatre alleging that many who had not reserved seats through prior online booking were allowed to attend the theatre [23]
International recognition
Sasidharan's 2017 film Sexy Durga, was renamed as S Durga following controversy of the original title which was banned by the Indian Central Board of Film Certification. The film S Durga (Sexy Durga), received the Hivos Tiger Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam 2017,[24] making it the first ever Indian film win this award.[25] The film, cinematographed by Prathap Joseph also has won eight more international awards including the Award for Professional Achievement in the Tarkovsky Film Festival in Russia for the excellence in cinematography,[26] the Golden Apricot Award in the International Feature Competition category in Yerevan International Film Festival 2017,[27] Best International Feature Narrative in Guanajuato International Film Festival, Mexico Expresión en Corto International Film Festival 2017,[28] Best International Feature award Reflet d’Or in the Geneva International Film Festival,[29] The Young Jury award and a Special mention from the official Jury in the 53rd Pesaro Film Festival in Italy,[30] Jury Mention for Direction and Original Music track in Cinema Jove - International Film Festival of Valencia, Spain, Special Jury mention in the 19th Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI). The work in progress project of the film had also received NFDC FILM BAZAAR – DI Award 2016.[31] The film faced huge controversy making headlines following the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India) denying permission to screen the film in the International Film Festival of India after Jury selection, due to the title.[32]
Special Jury Award For Direction in Valencia International Film Festival - Cinema Jove, in 2017 [51]
Special Jury mention for best film scoring for Sexy Durga for music by Basil Joseph in Valencia International Film Festival - Cinema Jove, in 2017 [52]
