The Tamil film Selvi had its world premiere at the Busan International Film Festival with a packed theatre. Produced by Anjali Patil, the movie marks Sailesh Rathnakumar’s directorial debut. It is one of two Indian films in the Vision section. Subsequent screenings also sold out, showing strong interest from audiences.
Produced by National Award-winning actor Anjali Patil, the film marks the directorial debut of Sailesh Rathnakumar. Adding to the achievement, Selvi is one of only two Indian films selected for the festival’s prestigious Vision – Asia section. The film has since continued to draw audiences, with its subsequent screenings also selling out.
Anjali Patil, who attended the premiere, shared her experience, saying, “I feel grateful that the film has opened at Busan, a festival that truly belongs to its audiences. Having ‘Selvi’ received by a full house of Korean audiences means a lot to us. When a film resonates with audiences here, it is a strong indication of its potential to connect with people on a much wider scale. That is something we are taking our cue from. ‘Selvi’ is a very personal film, and this journey as both a producer and an actor has meant a great deal to me. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to present an Indian film on such a prestigious international platform," as per a press release.
Speaking about the experience of presenting his debut film at an international platform, director Sailesh Rathnakumar further added, “Honestly, this still feels like a dream. Having your debut film screened at the prestigious Busan International Film Festival is an overwhelming experience. The audience response has added to my motivation as a filmmaker. The journey has just begun, and there are many more stories to tell. I take away from this experience an even stronger desire to tell stories that resonate with people and make my country, India, proud on the global stage.”