Sanal Kumar Sasidharan is an Indian poet, lawyer and filmmaker. He is best known for directing the film ‘Sexy Durga’ in 2017, which gained international recognition.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Sanal Kumar Sasidharan was born on Friday, 8 April 1977 (age 45 years; as in 2022) in Perumakadavila village, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. His zodiac sign is Aries. He studied in three schools, Perumakadavila LPBS, Thiruvananthapuram, Government HSS Marayamuttam High School, Thiruvananthapuram and Christian College, Cuttackada. He studied Bachelor of Science in Zoology from VTMNSS Dhanuvachapuram, Kerala and Bachelor of Laws from Government Law College, Thiruvananthapuram.
Physical Appearance
Height (Approx): 5′ 5″
Hair Color: Black
Eye colour: black
Family
parents and siblings
Sanal’s father’s name is Shashidharan and mother’s name is Sarojam. He has a sister.
Sanal Kumar Sasidharan with his father
Sanal Kumar Sasidharan with his mother
An old picture of Sanal Kumar Sasidharan with his family
wife and children
Sanal is married to Sreeja Sushila, who is a lawyer. He has two sons. The name of one of his sons is Kailasapati Sanal.
Sanal Kumar Sasidharan with his wife and children
religious viewpoint
He considers himself an atheist.
Address
He resides at Melathil, MRA-35, Planchery Lane, Punnapuram, Vallakadavu, Thiruvananthapuram-695008.
livelihood
Sanal made his debut in films in 2000 as an art assistant in the Malayalam film Manakkolangal. He directed other short films including Parole (2008), Frog (2012), Ozhivudivasathe Kali (2015), Chola (2019), and Vaazhakku (2021). ,
Poster of the movie ‘Chola’
Controversy
Sanal Kumar Sasidharan came into controversy on 6 May 2022 when actress Manju Warrier filed an FIR against him for blackmailing and defaming her reputation through social media. Following his complaint, Sanal was arrested by the police from Parasala in Thiruvananthapuram. When the police were arresting him, he went live on Facebook and told his fans that the police were trying to kidnap and kill him.
Awards, Honors, Achievements
- He won the Hivos Tiger Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam in 2017.
- He won the Golden Apricot Award at the Yerevan International Film Festival in 2017.
- In 2017, it won Best International Feature at the Guanajuato International Film Festival, Mexico.
- He won the Disruptor Award at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne in 2021.
- He won the Jury Mention for Direction at the Valencia International Film Festival Cinema Jove in 2017.
- It won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Film at the 2015 Kerala State Film Awards.
- He won the Best Director Award at the 2014 Kerala State Film Awards.
- He won the Special Jury Prize at the John Abraham Awards 2014.
- He won the Special Jury title at the Aravindan Awards 2014.
- He won the Mohan Raghavan Award for Best Director in 2014.
- In 2021, he received the IFFM Disruptor Award at the Indian Film Fest, Melbourne.
Facts/General Knowledge
- Sanal follows a non-vegetarian diet.
Instagram post about Sanal Kumar Sasidharan’s eating habits
- His hobbies include traveling and photography.
- He followed Hinduism when he was a child. He used to recite all the verses of Sunderkand of Ramayana.
Sanal Kumar Sasidharan in childhood
- He took admission in Zoology because his father wanted him to become a doctor. After completing his graduation, he told his father about his interest in film making, but his father refused and hence he took admission in law.
When Sanal Kumar Sasidharan was studying law
- He got associated with politics while studying in law college. He was the unit secretary of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), a student organization affiliated with the Bharatiya Janata Party. In the last year of graduation, he left the party and started criticizing the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Sanal Kumar Sasidharan with his friends during his college days
- In 2001, he formed Kazhacha Chalachitra Vedi, a film society for crowdfunding. He has directed three short films and one feature film through crowdfunding.
- In an interview he talked about the time when he started his career as a filmmaker. He said,
I didn’t know how to make a film and find a producer. I was keenly following these types of film society movements, the Odessa Film Movement. I read books about John Abraham, his parallel methods of filmmaking, and his philosophy of “people’s cinema.” But I was not following all this practically. Then I tried to make a film on my own and approached many people, but no one was willing to produce it.
- In 2017, his film Sexy Durga became the first Indian film to win the Hivos Tiger Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam.
- In an interview he had said that he writes fifteen to twenty page scripts for his actors. he adds,
One location allows a lot of inputs. My scripts are usually only 10-15 pages long. The script of Ahar Kayattam itself does not exceed 25 pages. Therefore, there is a lot of room for location and artist contribution. This is basically because I am someone who likes to view cinema from a spiritual perspective. This is something I have understood from experience. I have always felt that cinema gives you more energy than you have. My style is to watch and record it.”
- In 2016, she had tweeted about badminton player PV Sindhu after she won her second silver medal at the Olympics 2016. Many people condemned his tweet, which he made in Malayalam. He wrote, ‘Now everyone is celebrating Sindhu’s achievement. What happens if I spit on it? What is there to celebrate more in this?
Sanal Kumar Sasidharan’s post about PV Sindhu
- In 2017, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) changed the name of her film Sexy Durga to S Durga. The organization claimed that the name of the film was inappropriate. Sanal filed a writ petition before the Kerala High Court against the organization. Talking about this in an interview he said,
This is how right wing politics works. They don’t even need to see an artwork to ban it. Prejudice is part of their politics. It is the same type of judgment that they always hold against the other. You can be beaten or killed just for growing a beard, no matter who you are or what you do. They won’t even bother to ask before attacking you. This is quintessential fascism, isn’t it?”
Sanal Kumar Sasidharan is protesting against changing the name of his film ‘Sexy Durga’.
- In an interview, he told that the film ‘Kayyattam’ (2020) was shot on iPhone in the Himalayas.
Sanal Kumar Sasidharan is shooting the film ‘Kayyattam’ on his phone
- In 2019, he withdrew his film ‘Chola’ from the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) because he felt the event was biased. In an interview he talked about his film being removed and said,
Chola has been invited to the Kaleidoscope section at the 24th IFFK. I am very grateful to the invitation, but I have sent a mail stating that I am withdrawing the film from the festival in protest against the highly biased and unprofessional manner of selection process in the Malayalam Cinema Today section. I believe, it would be huge irresponsibility on my part to participate in the festival, whose selection process is openly biased and outdated.
- He is often published in various newspapers.
Sanal Kumar Sasidharan appeared in a newspaper
- He is often seen enjoying alcoholic beverages on various occasions.
Post about Sanal Kumar Sasidharan’s drinking habits
- He is an avid dog lover and often posts pictures of them on social media.
Sanal Kumar Sasidharan with his pet dog
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn