About

Sanju Surendran, an Indian film maker is an alumni of Film and Television Institute of India, Pune. At the Institute he picked his lessons from the legendary film maker Mani Kaul. His documentary on Kutiyattam, Kapila won the National award for the best documentary and Special Mention at Visions du Reel, Switzerland. Sanju’s first feature film, Aedan- Garden of Desire won Rajathachakoram award for the best debut director and  the FIPRESCI award for the best Malayalam film and four Kerala State Film Awards.

Filmography

  •       Kandal Pokkudan [2003] – a documentary on an ecological activist – Pokkudan: his life, views and his works.
  •       Expressway [2004] – a documentary on the Mumbai-Pune Express Highway.
  •       Scribbles on the city [2005] – a docu-fiction on the city – people and places, lives and loves.
  •       Pratibimb [2003] – a short film on the dream of a little boy.
  •       Nisha [2005] – a short film on a lady and her poem.
  •       Reduce-Reuse- Recycle [2006] – a public service message on recycling.
  •       Theeram [2007] – a short film on a father and his daughter. Her life and loves, his memories and angst.
  •       Signature Film [2008] for Vibgyor International Short and Documentary Film Festival, Thrissur.
  •       Signature Film [2009] for the 14 th International film Festival of Kerala – IFFK 2009.
  •       Gundert – The Man , The Language [2012] Documentary for the Films Division.
  • Garass [2015] Short film for the Acting Dept. Film and TV Institute of India, Pune.
  •       Kapila [2015] Documentary on Kutiyattam.
  •       Aedan – the Garden of Desire [2018] Debut Feature Film.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recognitions

  •       Kandal Pokkudan [2003] – Selected for Vikalp 2004 Mumbai, Vatavaran 2003 New Delhi, Signs 2005 Trivandrum and  Mediterranean Environmental Award Turkey
  •       Expressway [2004] – Selected at the Vatavaran Film Festival, New Delhi
  •       Scribbles on the city [2005] – Selected at the SOMS International Film Festival, Cochin, Signs 2006 Trivandrum
  •       Theeram [2007] – Official Selection Jordan International Short Film Festival, Jordan Official Selection 52nd Corona Cork Film Festival, Cork Ireland, Official Selection 7th Karachi International Film Festival, Pakisthan Official Selection 12th International Film Festival of Kerala, India.
  •       Kapila [2015] – 62nd National Award for the Best Documentary [Arts and Culture] Special Mention at Visions du Reel, Nyon, Switzerland, Special Mention at International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala IDSFFK 2015, Best Documentary Film at SIGNS 2015 [John Abraham National Award], Focus at FID Marseilles, France
  •       Aedan – The Garden of Desire [2018] – Rajathachakoram award for the best debut director at the 22nd International Film Festival of Kerala, India FIPRESCI award for the best Malayalam film at the 22nd International Film Festival of Kerala, India, Kerala State Film Awards 2017, Second Best Film, Best adapted screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Sound Editing