Tovino Thomas
starrer '
Vazhakk
', directed by
Sanal Kumar Sasidharan
, completed shooting in December 2020 and finished production in 2022. However, the movie has not been released in theaters or on OTT platforms to date. Director Sanal took to his Facebook account to express his mental struggle as the film couldn't reach the public, and actor Tovino lost hope regarding its reception.
Read the post here:
Sanal mentioned that Tovino was reluctant because he was worried that the film might stir controversy and negatively impact his career.
He expressed that there are always business interests behind every piece of art, where a group of people with a business agenda decides what themes or topics should be discussed in public or what people should not consume. This filtration affected the fate of his movie 'Vazhakk'.
Sanal elaborated, "I have understood this better through certain events I've been unlucky to be part of. One such experience was 'Vazhakk', co-produced and acted by Tovino Thomas. The film was shot during the closure of the
Malayalam film industry
due to Covid, completing within two weeks using complex shooting methods. The budget was approximately ₹50 lakhs, excluding Tovino's and my salaries. The funds were provided with 50% invested in Tovino and 50% in Parrett Mount Pictures, where I also have a partnership."
He further explained how the film faced rejections from film festivals despite initial acceptance emails. "A famous festival, after initially expressing interest in premiering the film, changed its decision within two weeks. Many festivals have since rejected the film, shattering my expectations. Although the Mumbai Film Festival selected it for competition in 2022, the festival didn't happen that year, dashing that hope."
However, Sanal finally got a chance to screen his film at the International Film Festival of Kerala. He said, "It was at IFFK where there was a remote possibility of screening the film. I didn't expect it to be selected due to propaganda and political defense against me. That's why I suggested to Tovino to release the film on OTT. Tovino argued that the film was meant for festivals and wouldn't appeal to regular audiences. When I mentioned the rejections from most festivals, suggesting a way to bring cinema to people without prejudices, Tovino remained reluctant."
Sanal regained hope after the film's release at IFFK. "However, Tovino remained apprehensive, believing the film would fail at the box office. Someone willing to invest in bringing the movie to theaters emerged, but Tovino still worried about its impact on his career."
In conclusion, Sanal reflected, "Now I understand what Tovino meant. Tovino was a rising superstar during the production of 'Vazhakk'. If it had been released then, the enmity against me would have turned against him, shortening his path to becoming a superstar. Did Tovino do wrong? No. Is it true? No. Then what is it? It's injustice."
Nadikar - Official Trailer
Sanal is known for unique films that have acclaimed festival screenings and OTT releases, including 'S Durga' and 'Chola'.
The movie's theme, as per IFFK log books, reads: "On the day he agreed to sign a mutual divorce in court, Siddharthan, who is also a lawyer, cheats on his wife Lakshmi and goes on an inland drive. He urges Lakshmi to postpone the divorce, citing their daughter Tara's future, but the attempt fails. On his way back, he meets Sathi and her dumb daughter, who are leaving their home due to marital issues. The meeting changes Siddharthan's outlook on life."
Tovino's latest film 'Nadikar' is currently running successfully in theaters.
English (US) ·