Manju Warrier-starrer Kayattam selected for Busan Film Festival

Sanal Kumar Sasidharan’s

Kayattam

, also titled Ahr, has been selected for the prestigious 25th

Busan Film Festival

, which is scheduled to take place from October 21 to 30. The official announcement of selected films was made today.

Kayattam, a musical fantasy starring Manju Warrier, is about a trek in the extreme climes of the Himalayan mountains. The film, in the typical style of filmmaker Sanal, has several innovative experimental elements, including a language -

Ahr Samsa

- devised for the film. Speaking to us earlier about his style of filmmaking, he said, “My films are not strictly scripted. They are based on a concept, which is developed during the shoot by everyone, including the cast and crew. Kayattam has 10 songs, which are in Ahr Samsar, marking each level of the climb. The language was, in fact, devised for the songs and it has worked out nicely.” Apart from direction, Sanal has written and edited the film, and also done the sound design.

The film also features Vedh Vibes, who had acted in Joseph, and debutant Gaurav Ravindran. The cinematography of Kayattam is by Chandu Selvaraj and music is by Rateesh Eettillam.The film is produced by Shaji Mathew, Aruna Mathew and Manju Warrier.

Sanal’s Sexy Durga and Ozhivudivasathinte Kali won him awards at international festivals, including the prestigious Rotterdam festival.

The Busan Film Festival, held in South Korea, apparently will be a scaled down version of its usual self because of the pandemic, and with no foreign guests, according to a press release from the festival organisers.