Actress Radhika Madan feels overwhelmed with her film, Sanaa, traveling to several film festivals, the latest being the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. And she hopes her work sparks conversation around women breaking out of patriarchal misogynistic society.
Her film premiered at Tallinn’s Black Nights Festival recently. “The response to the festival was really overwhelming. Lots of tears, lots of hugs and lots of appreciation. We also realized that the sentiment we are trying to address is universal. It doesn’t matter what part of the world you are from, you will connect with the film on some level and we could see that at the screening and it was really special,” Madan tells us.
The 27-year-old adds: “Walking the first black carpet for me was really special. Seeing people there greet you with such warmth and appreciation restores your faith in the way you approach movies. Sanaa everything was difficult for me. I gave it my all and to receive it with so much love makes me go for more such projects with all my heart.”
The film is a relationship drama about a headstrong and ambitious woman and the actor admits that portraying such women on screen holds a special place in her heart.
“Representing a headstrong and ambitious woman like her is important, but for me it’s the true representation, not the caricature of a headstrong and ambitious woman. It is important to show his humanity, for what is hidden behind this image. That’s what we tried to show Sanaa,” she says.
The actor continues, “We tried to target many things. How do you survive in this patriarchal misogynist society? How do you not lose a part of yourself? What are you losing or giving up to achieve this? Therefore, we aim at many levels. I hope people can relate to our storytelling and introspection, men and women. Our aim is to start a conversation and we hope to see it through to the end.”
Actually, the Shiddat The actor believes that audiences have been very receptive to such a diverse representation of women on screen. “I think there has been a substantial change and a welcome change in that aspect. Society is always in flux and so are the people who make it, so it’s only right that our films reflect that change as well. Today’s audience not only appreciates it but actually demands it. Sanaain this way, it will be a welcome addition,” he concludes.
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