Happy to have my film with my favourite directors in the competition category: Thamar

Director Thamar’s Sarkeet has been selected for the International Competition section at IFFI, and is one of only three Indian films to make it to the list.

Speaking to us, the director-producer says, “I am very happy. Initially, we thought it was only a Panorama selection. It was only during the press conference that we realised it's an entry in the International Competition. As an added bonus, the film is competing alongside some of my favourite directors — Fatih Akin, Takashi Miike, and Diane Kurys — so it is very heartening. The style and script of my works are inspired by the international films I personally love to watch. I used to wonder how we could make films like that in our own way. In the end, those same directors are now in the competition category.”

Will the entire team be attending IFFI? “Yes, all of us will be going — Asikka (Asif Ali), Divya Prabha, Deepak, and Orhan,” he confirms.

Thamar says that when the film released in theatres, the response from critics and audiences who watched it was very positive, but that didn’t reflect in the box office performance since many big films released at the same time. “I was a little disappointed, after the OTT release, we received more appreciation. People were discussing scenes and every little detail,” he shares.

“Now, with this IFFI selection, our entire journey has come full circle. There’s no bigger stage in India,” he says.