Sanal Kumar Sasidharan is an Indian poet, lawyer and filmmaker. He is famous for directing the film ‘Sexy Durga’ in 2017 which gained international recognition.
Wiki/Biography
Sanal Kumar Sasidharan was born on Friday, 8 April 1977 (age 45 years; in 2022) in Perumkadavila village, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. His zodiac sign is Aries. He attended three schools, Perumkadavila Lpbs, Thiruvananthapuram, Govt Hss Marayamuttom High School, Thiruvananthapuram and Christian College, Kattakada. He pursued his Bachelor of Science in Zoology at VTMNSS Dhanuvachapuram, Kerala and Bachelor of Laws at Government Law College, Thiruvananthapuram.
Physical appearance
Height (approx): 5′ 5″
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Black
Family
Parents & Siblings
Sanal’s father’s name is Sasidharan, and his mother’s name is Sarojam. He has a sister.
Sanal Kumar Sasidharan with his father
Sanal Kumar Sasidharan with his mother
Old photo of Sanal Kumar Sasidharan with his family
Wife & Children
Sanal is married to Sreeja Suseela, who is an advocate. They have two sons. The name of one of his sons was Kailasapathi Sanal.
Sanal Kumar Sasidharan with his wife and children
religious views
He considers himself an atheist.
Address
He resides at Melathil, MRA-35, Plancherry Lane, Punnapuram, Vallakadavu, Thiruvananthapuram-695008.
Career
Sanal made his film debut as an art assistant in the Malayalam film Mankolangal in 2000. He directed other short films including Parol (2008), Frog (2012), Ozhivudivasathe Kali (2015), Chola (2019), and Vazhakku (2021).
‘Chola’ movie poster
Controversy
Sanal Kumar Sasidharan invited controversy on 6 May 2022 when actor Manju Warrier filed an FIR against him for blackmailing her and defaming her through social media. After his complaint, Sanal was arrested by the police from Parassala in Thiruvananthapuram. When the police arrested 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 Hivo Tiger Award at the Rotterdam International Film Festival in 2017.
- He won the Golden Apricot Award at the Yerevan International Film Festival in 2017.
- In 2017, it won the award for Best International Feature at the Guanajuato International Film Festival, Mexico.
- He won the Disruptor Award at the Melbourne Indian Film Festival 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 Kerala State Film Awards 2015.
- He won the Best Director award at the Kerala State Film Awards 2014.
- He won the Special Jury award in the 2014 John Abraham Awards.
- He won the Special Jury mention in Aravindan Puraskaram 2014.
- He won the Mohan Raghavan award for Best director in 2014.
- In 2021, he received the IFFM Disruptor Award at the Melbourne Indian Film Festival.
Facts/Trivia
- Sanal follows a non-vegetarian diet.
Sanal Kumar Sasidharan’s Instagram post on his eating habits
- His hobbies include traveling and photography.
- He practiced Hinduism when he was a child. He used to recite all the verses from Sunderkanda Ramayana.
Sanal Kumar Sasidharan as a child
- He enrolled in Zoology because his father wanted him to become a doctor. After completing his studies, he told his father about his interest in filmmaking, but his father denied and that is why he took admission in law.
Sanal Kumar Sasidharan when he was studying law
- While studying at law college, he was associated with politics. He is the unit secretary of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), a student organization associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party. In the last year of his graduation, he left the party and started criticizing the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Sanal Kumar Sasidharan with his friends during college days
- In 2001, he formed a film society, Kazhcha Chalachithra Vedi, for crowd funding. He has directed three short films and one feature film through crowdfunding.
- In an interview, he talked about when he started his career as a filmmaker. He said,
I didn’t know how to make a film and how to find a producer. I diligently watch this film community movement, the Odessa film movement. I read a book about John Abraham, about his parallel filmmaking method and his philosophy about “people’s cinema.” But I do not follow all this practically. Then I tried to make my own film and approached many people, but no one was willing to publish it.”
- In 2017, his film Sexy Durga became the first Indian film to win the Hivos Tiger Award at the Rotterdam International Film Festival.
- In an interview, he said that he writes fifteen to twenty page scripts for his actors. He further added,
Location provides a lot of input. My scripts are usually only 10-15 pages. Ahr Kayattam’s script itself does not exceed 25 pages. So, there is a lot of room for locations and artists to contribute. It’s basically because I’m a person who likes to watch cinema on the spiritual plane. That’s something I understand from experience. I always feel that cinema gives you more energy than you do. My style is to observe and record it.”
- In 2016, he tweeted about badminton player PV Sindhu after she won her second silver medal at the 2016 Olympics. His tweet was Tweet that he made in Malayalam language was condemned by many people. He wrote, ‘Everyone is celebrating Sindhu’s achievement now. What if I spit this out? What’s there to celebrate about that?’
Sanal Kumar Sasidharan’s post about PV Sindhu
- In 2017, the name of her film Sexy Durga was changed to S Durga by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The organization claimed that the name of the film was inappropriate. Sanal filed a writ petition before the Kerala high court against the organization. In an interview, he talked about this and said,
This is how right-wing politics works. They don’t even have to look at the artwork to ban it. Prejudice is part of their politics. It’s the same kind of judgment they always make on others. You can be beaten or killed just for growing a beard, no matter who you are or what you do. They won’t ask before attacking you. This is very important fascism, isn’t it?”
Sanal Kumar Sasidharan objects to changing the name of his film ‘Sexy Durga’
- In an interview, he revealed that the film ‘Kayyattam’ (2020), was shot using an iPhone in the Himalayas.
Sanal Kumar Sasidharan shot the movie ‘Kayyattam’ on his phone
- In 2019, he withdrew his film, ‘Chola’ from the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) as he considered the event biased. In an interview, he talked about his film’s exit and said,
Chola was invited to the Kaleidoscope section in the 24th IFFK. I was very touched by the invitation but I have sent a mail stating that I will withdraw the film from the festival, protesting its blatantly biased and unprofessional manner of selection in the Malayalam Cinema Today section. I believe that, it would be grossly irresponsible on my part to participate in a festival that is openly biased and outdated in its selection process.”
- He is often featured in various newspapers.
Sanal Kumar Sasidharan featured in the newspaper
- He is often seen enjoying alcoholic beverages at various events.
Sanal Kumar Sasidharan’s post about his 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: SCHOOL TRANG DAI
