Malayalam film on sister who became sex worker wows BIFFes audiences

Bengaluru: Amidst a host of world class movies shown up at the Bangalore International Film Festival (BIFes), Biriyani, a Malayalam movie, has been attracting full houses.

Directed by young Thiruvanathapuram-based director Sajin Baabu, the movie revolves around a Muslim woman named Khadeeja who is ostracised by society as her brother joins the extremist outfit Islamic State (ISIS).

In a conversation with Deccan Chroicle, the director said the main intention behind this movie was to reveal what happens to families after a member joins an extremist outfit.

"We keep reading in newspapers and see reports on TV about some members belonging to the Islamic community getting radicalised and joining ISIS and getting killed in ambush. But we never come to know what happens to the families. Society immediately ostracizes the innocent families just for the reason that one family member got radicalised,'' Sajjid said.

Khadeeja is abandoned by society after her brother joins ISIS and she decides to hit back at society by liberating herself sexually. She becomes a sex worker.

Biriyaani is Sajin's third movie after his award-winning Asthamayam Vare and Ayaal Sassi. The movie was shot in Thiruvanathapuram and parts of Tamil Nadu. It captures its subject in a very rustic way that the audience could immediately relate it.

Sajid said he is overwhelmed by the response to his film at BIFFes. At the moment, the movie is permitted to be exhibited at film festivals. It will hit the theaters by April.