Priyadarshan’s Sila Samayangalil, featuring Prakash Raj, Sriya Reddy and Ashok Selvan, has made it to the final round of selection for the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards. The ace filmmaker tells CE that he’s quite elated about the same.
“I learnt so much from K Balachander and Bharathiraja’s movies. I made this with all my heart after Kanchivaram (2008) and this will remain one of my favourite films. I have done enough of masala films,” explains Priyadarshan. Sila Samayangalil is one of the 10 films and the only one from India, which has entered the final round. “From these 10 entries, five will make it to the Golden Globes. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) screening will happen on October 6,” he added.
The film tells the story of eight characters who arrive at a pathology lab to give their blood for an AIDS test. How it ends and what happens to the results, forms the rest of the story. Prakash Raj, who’s known for the enthusiasm that he brings into his characters, was all praise for Priyadarshan.
He smiles, “Priyan is one of those rare breeds of directors who has acute passion towards the art of making films. He is an honest filmmaker, who believes in his scripts. He’s an amazing human being too and an endearing soul. We share a common love for cinema. I couldn’t think of this film without him. Through Sila Samayangalil, I think as a team, we have given back something to the society. I have done more than 300 films in my career, but Sila Samayangalil has given me an immense sense of satisfaction. In fact, doing such a film has brought more meaning to my life. This film is not preachy, but definitely will have an effect on people.”
Ask him on what basis he chooses scripts in general, he replies, “I just go by my instinct. I realised we have to give back to life from whatever we’ve earned thought-wise or monetarily. My film career is like a never-ending stretch. Looking back, I feel great being a part of some wonderful films.”
Quiz Priyadarshan on what’s next, he says, “I am thinking of remaking my Malayalam film Oppam, in Telugu and Hindi. This is because I am inspired by my own film and I feel it should be done as well.”
Jointly produced by Prabhu Deva, director Vijay and Isari K Ganesh, Sila Samayangalil has no songs, but has Ilaiyaraaja on the background score. The makers are eyeing a December release.