Krishnashtami: The Book Of Dry Leaves Earns Prestigious Moscow International Film Festival Selection
In a significant achievement for Indian independent cinema, director Abhilash Babu's experimental feature Krishnashtami: The Book Of Dry Leaves has been officially selected for screening at the historic Moscow International Film Festival this April. The film will be presented in the festival's Out of Competition section, marking its highly anticipated international premiere on a global stage.
A Cinematic Poem Comes to Life
The film serves as a modern cinematic interpretation of the celebrated Malayalam poem of the same name by the legendary poet Vyloppilly Sreedhara Menon. Beyond its titular inspiration, the project is described as a musical that thoughtfully incorporates several other poems from Vyloppilly's revered body of work. Notably, the acclaimed filmmaker Jeo Baby takes on the central acting role, with the film's evocative score composed by the renowned Ouseppachan.
Director Reacts to Festival Invitation
Expressing his excitement, director Abhilash Babu shared his thoughts on the selection. "It's incredibly exciting to be part of this festival, which stands as one of the oldest and most respected in the world," he said. "This invitation represents the film's international debut. The festival's rules mandate a Russian premiere for screening, which we are honored to fulfill."
However, logistical challenges may prevent the team's physical presence in Moscow. "The official notification arrived with very short notice," Babu explained. "Consequently, we are uncertain about managing the travel and visa arrangements in time. Our immediate priority, following the intimation received this morning, is to upload the film in DCP format to their server. Ensuring the film reaches the festival takes precedence over our own attendance at this moment."
Unique Artistic Vision and Production Style
Krishnashtami is a distinctive cinematic experiment, presented entirely as a still-image feature film. Abhilash Babu elaborated on this innovative approach. "The film follows an old documentary style constructed purely from still images. We employed an age-old method where archival photographs are compiled to create a narrative. In our process, we meticulously staged photographs with actors and then built the entire feature film using those curated stills."
Cultural Resonance and Festival Journey
When questioned about the film's potential appeal to international audiences, the director expressed a measured optimism. "It may connect as a profound cultural film. For global viewers, something deeply rooted in a specific culture can possess its own unique magnetic pull. I cannot say if that influenced the selection committee. The film explores an Indian myth, but deliberately not from a conventional spiritual perspective. There is a universality in its underlying theme of power that may transcend cultural boundaries."
This international recognition arrives after a period of disappointment for the team within the Indian festival circuit. "I was unable to secure a screening at major festivals in Kerala, including the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), where it was rejected," Babu revealed. "This invitation from Moscow comes at a time when we were feeling quite dejected. It is unfortunate that the cultural space in Kerala seemed unprepared to welcome a film based on a poet who wrote extensively about Malayali identity. Perhaps this will catalyze a change, given our observed tendency to appreciate artistic works more readily after they gain international acclaim."
