Malayalam film ‘Victoria’ has been selected for screening at the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF). Directed by Sivaranjini J, it is the only Indian film to be picked at this year’s edition.
Victoria is part of the Asian New Talent category, which also has films from Iran, Japan, China, Sri Lanka, and Turkey.
Victoria, India’s sole entry to the film fete, deals with themes such as gender, religion, faith, caste and class.
The film is about Victoria (Meenakshi Jayan), a young beautician in a suburban beauty parlour, who decides to elope with her Hindu boyfriend after a fierce clash with her conservative Catholic parents.
Amidst the turmoil, a neighbour asks her to temporarily house an offering rooster destined for a festival at St. George church inside the parlour.
Juggling the rooster’s antics, unexpected clients, and her boyfriend’s uncertainty, Victoria grapples with conflicting emotions leading to a day of intense personal and spiritual revelations.
The film stars Meenakshi Jayan, Sreeshma Chandran, Jolly Chirayath, Steeja Mary, Darsana Vikas, Jeena Rajeev, and Remadevi.
“There was a phase when I accepted that our movie, Victoria, might not be an entry at any international festival, get a limited release in Kerala, and that would be it for the movie,” says filmmaker Sivaranjini J.
However, the director is now thrilled that her debut movie has emerged as the sole entry from India to the Shanghai International Film Festival 2025.
The film premiered at the 29th International Film Festival of Kerala last year, where it won the FIPRESCI Award for Best Malayalam Film.
Meanwhile, the 27th SIFF, which kicked off on June 13, will conclude on June 22.
ALSO READ: Assam: Guwahati to host 9th edition of Chalachitram National Film Festival
Indian filmmaker Kiran Rao, best known for her helming Dhobi Ghat and Laapata Ladies, is also part of the jury for the Main Competition section at the festival. She is part of the panel led by Oscar-winning Italian filmmaker Giuseppe Tornatore.
