Veyilmarangal starring Indrans to have its world premiere at Shanghai International Film Festival

Veyilmarangal starring Indrans to have its world premiere at Shanghai International Film Festival

Director Bijukumar Damodaran, popularly known as Dr Biju, is one of the most revered filmmakers in the Malayalam parallel cinema space. Almost all his films have been widely acclaimed, with some of them even garnering international acclaim. His new film ‘Veyilmarangal’ (Trees Under the Sun) starring Indrans in the lead has now been selected in the Golden Goblet competition at the 22nd Shanghai International Film Festival.

‘Veyilmarangal’ is apparently the first Malayalam movie in seven years to be selected in the main competition section at Shanghai. The last film to achieve this feat was ‘Akashathinte Niram (Color of Sky), which interestingly was also directed by Biju. ‘Veyilmarangal’ is also the only Indian film to be selected from 3964 film submissions from 112 countries. The festival will be held from June 15-24 and the movie’s world premiere will be attended by Biju, Indrans, producer Baby Mathew Somatheeram and actor Prakash Bare.

Director Biju’s Facebook post reads,

New film “Trees under the Sun” (Veyilmarangal) has been selected to Golden Goblet competition at 22nd Shanghai International film festival. This is the world premiere of the film. The last time an Indian film selected In the Main competition section at Shanghai was in 2012. During the last six years, not any Indian films selected for the main competition section at Shanghai. Interestingly the last Indian film competed for Golden Goblet in 2012 at Shanghai film festival was ” Color of sky ” (Akashathinte Niram) which was directed by me .. This year from 3964 film submissions from 112 countries 14 movies selected for competing Golden Goblet at Shanghai and only one entry from India. Shanghai festival is one among the world’s top 15 competitive feature film festivals recognized by the International Federation of Film Producer’s Association (FIAPF) and is the biggest film festival in Asia. Indian films especially Malayalam language films are very rarely get selected in the main competition section in all these FIAPF main film festivals outside India for many years. The world-renowned Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan is the Jury chairman for Golden Goblet awards this year..
So excited for the world premiere… Me with the lead actor Indrans , Producer Baby Mathew Somatheeram and actor Prakash Bare will attend the festival which is scheduled from June 15 to 24th . Thanks to all cast and crew who worked hard for one and a half year to complete this film ….