Sudhanshu Saria’s Sanaa starring Radhika Madan earns standing ovation at the 54th International Film Festival of India

Creating yet another historic moment with its brilliant storyline and stellar performances is the critically acclaimed film ‘Sanaa’ directed by National Award Winner Director Sudhanshu Saria. Starring Radhika Madan in the lead, the film recently premiered at the 54th edition of The International Film Festival of India in the ‘Indian Panorama’ section and opened to a terrific response from the audience. The film was invited by the Government of India to represent India and be part of the festival for foreign guests.

Garnering immense acclaim, ‘Sanaa’ also received a standing ovation from those in attendance. The premiere marked a special moment for the film’s director Sudhanshu Saria and the entire cast including Radhika Madan, Pooja Bhatt, Shikha Talsania and Nikhil Khurana, who came together for the first time. It provided an unforgettable experience, particularly for Shikha Talsania and Nikhil Khurana as they witnessed the film for the very first time in such a prestigious setting.

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Honoured with the spectacular response that the film received at The International Film Festival of India 2023, Director Sudhanshu Saria said, “I feel on top of the world. We pretend we don’t need validation but with such incredible appreciation we received, it felt like I received it from my family because our country acknowledged it. The fact that we were invited and given the platform by The Government of India to be a part of the festival, it’s a huge honour for all of us. Meeting the audience and feeling their love and energy along with conversations in the room was phenomenal. It’s a result of everybody’s hard work associated with the film. The right people said yes to the film and put their heart and soul into it and it all just fell into place. I’m extremely grateful for such an honour and going back home with memories I will cherish for a lifetime.”

Earlier, ‘Sanaa’ received international acclaim at other esteemed film festivals such as the Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF), the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival and the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

‘Sanaa’, a social drama, follows a headstrong and ambitious girl who is raging against an internal battle that is rooted in unhealed trauma. Produced by Sudhanshu Saria’s production banner Four Line Films, ‘Sanaa’ co-stars Soham Shah, Shikha Talsania and Pooja Bhatt in pivotal roles.