Being selected to be part of the Venice festival itself is a huge honour: Sanal Kumar Sasidharan

It is a pride moment for Malayalis as director Sanal Kumar Sasidharan and team Chola are having their Gala time at 76th edition of the world’s oldest film festival, the Venice Film Festival. They not only created buzz among the film buffs who walked into be part of one of the prestigious film festivals in the world by walking the red carpet wearing traditional Kerala attire, Mundu and Sair, but also by showcasing a thought-provoking film.

Talking to us from Venice, Sanal tells us, “Being selected to be part of the Venice festival itself is a huge honour and the review after the screening was fabulous.” Chola was screened in a theatre which had 1400 seats.

Sanal adds that there are 17 films apart from Chola in the ‘Orizzonti’ (Horizons) competition category, a special competitive section launched at the festival in 2004, dedicated to films that showcase the latest aesthetic and expressive trends in international cinema. It runs parallel to the competition for the main Golden Lion prize. “Prize never matter,” he adds.

How did the film lovers in Venice responded to the red-carpet attire? “Dress doesn’t matter here. Everybody eats, sleeps and drinks cinema here. Nothing else,” quips Sanal.

Chola that features Nimisha Sajayan, Joju George and newbie Akhil, is a road movie which is woven around two teenagers. The duo has accompanied Sanal at Venice. “Since it is happening in a place which is bordered with lake and sea, there is only boat service to roam around. We are also going to a few places nearby,” Sanal adds.