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India Gazette
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Gazette
Sivaranjini J directorial 'Victoria' becomes India's solo entry at 27th Shanghai International Film Festival, filmmaker shares her journey
Washington DC [US], June 16 (ANI): Director Sivaranjini J is thrilled as her debut feature film Victoria has been selected as the sole entry from India at the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) 2025. The film will be screened under the Asian New Talent section of the festival. Sivaranjini opened up about her journey from a small village in Kerala to gaining international recognition, revealing that she had once given up on her 'dream' of becoming a filmmaker due to the immense struggles faced by independent directors today, reported Variety. In an interview with Variety, the 'Victoria' director said that she feels 'honoured' for the recognition received by her film at the Shanghai International Film Festival 2025. 'I am feeling really honoured by the recognition. On a personal level, it feels like a significant milestone, considering how unattainable making a feature film once seemed to me. It's an acknowledgement of the collective effort of my team and the risks we took with this film,' said Sivaranjini as quoted by Variety. As per the outlet, Sivaranjini developed the project under the Kerala State Film Development Corporation's (KSFDC) Women's Empowerment scheme, which proved instrumental in bringing her vision to life. She calls it a huge 'turning point' in her filmmaking journey. 'By then, I had almost given up on my dream of becoming a filmmaker, aware of the immense struggles independent filmmakers often face. The state government grant was a huge turning point for me. The grant enabled me to pursue my dream without the usual commercial expectations of the producers. We also had access to the facilities of Chitranjali Studio owned by the state government,' said Sivaranjini as quoted by Variety. The film had its premiere at the 29th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) in 2024. As per Variety, the movie centres on Victoria, a young beautician who is caught between family expectations and personal desires when she plans to elope with her Hindu boyfriend against her conservative Catholic parents' wishes. Set almost entirely within a beauty parlour, the story complicates when Victoria must care for a neighbour's sacrificial rooster intended for a church offering. Sivaranjini J. also shared the inspiration behind her movie, saying that the idea of 'Victoria' struck her five years ago when she visited a neighbourhood beauty parlour in her home village on the outskirts of Kochi, Kerala. 'I encountered a rooster with its legs tied, near their toilet. I enquired and learned it was a sacrificial rooster soon to be taken to the nearby St. George church as an offering. A rooster inside an all-ladies beauty parlour was the image that inspired me to write the script,' said Sivaranjini. Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) announced the selection of Victoria through their Instagram handle. The cast of the film includes Meenakshi Jayan, Sreeshma Chandran, Jolly Chirayath, Steeja Mary, Darsana Vikas, Jeena Rajeev, and Remadevi. The technical team features Anand Ravi as director of photography, Abdul Khader A.K. handling art and production design, with Sivaranjini serving as editor, and Abhaydev Praful composing the music, reported Variety. (ANI)
News18
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Jeo Baby's Malayalam Film Victoria Selected For Shanghai International Film Festival
The Malayalam film Victoria, directed by Sivaranjini J, is the only Indian film selected for the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival. Indian cinema is shining bright again. The Malayalam film Victoria, directed by first-time filmmaker Sivaranjini J, has been officially selected for the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF). And guess what? It's the only Indian film at the festival this year! The film will be shown in the Asian New Talent section, which highlights new and exciting voices in cinema. The festival will take place from June 13 to June 22, 2025, and will also feature films from countries like Iran, Japan, China, Sri Lanka, and Turkey. Popular director Jeo Baby, known for Kaathal, shared the happy news online. He posted, 'Proud moments for Indian cinema. The one and only Indian movie @ 27th Shanghai international film festival. Congrts @ 🙌🏼 this movie produced by KSFDC." Victoria follows the story of a young woman named Victoria, a beautician working in a small town. Her quiet life takes a dramatic turn when she decides to run away with her Hindu boyfriend, going against her strict Catholic family. Things get even more confusing when a neighbour leaves a rooster with her for a religious offering! It's a story full of emotions, challenges, and unexpected moments. The movie stars Meenakshi Jayan, Sreeshma Chandran, Jolly Chirayath, Steeja Mary, Darsana Vikas, Jeena Rajeev, and Remadevi. It deals with important topics like religious pressure, women's freedom, and cultural identity. Victoria is backed by the Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC) and was funded through the Women Empowerment Grant, a special initiative to support women directors. The film had its world premiere at the International Film Festival of Kerala in 2024, where it won the FIPRESCI Award for Best Malayalam Film. That's not all, even Kiran Rao will also be part of the festival as a jury member. The main jury is headed by Giuseppe Tornatore, the famous director of Cinema Paradiso. The Shanghai International Film Festival is the largest film festival in Asia and China's longest-running international cinema event. The first festival was established in October 1993. It is the only Chinese festival accredited by the FIAPF. The festival is held over a ten-day period every June. SIFF is organized by China Film Administration, China Media Group, and the Shanghai government. First Published:
