A Kannada Short Film Captures Global Eyes!
In a thrilling moment for Indian cinema, Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know, a Kannada short film by Chidananda S. Naik, has captured the spotlight with a coveted nomination at the 2025 Oscars in the Live Action Short Film category! This beautifully crafted 16-minute film, born from the creative halls of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), stunned audiences at Cannes earlier this year, taking the top prize in the La Cinef Selection. With its roots in Indian folktales and vibrant cultural traditions, Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know is a cinematic masterpiece, brought to life by a powerhouse team—editor Manoj V, sound designer Abhishek Kadam, and cinematographer Suraj Thakur. "An illumination that, from the depths of the night, shines with humor and a keen sense of direction, the first prize is awarded to Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know by Chidananda S. Naik," the Cannes La Cinef Jury said, praising the film for its insightful narrative and brilliant directing. "I have wanted to tell this story for as long as I can remember," Chidananda stated in a news release. Our objective was to replicate the sense of truly living these stories rather than just hearing them; I think that audiences everywhere will find this to be a compelling experience. Appreciate simple little things about life, that's what this visual treat gives you ~ (Source: Google Images) This is a folklore from rural Karnataka, India, on the subcontinent. This tale, which typically deals with themes of fate and destiny, continues to be a popular way for individuals to express themselves. Folktales are poetic works that contain elements of their cultural settings; they are also metaphors that acquire new significance with each retelling. A meta-fiction in which the weight of stories is transformed and has its own weight, will, and wrath, the movie mirrors the canon of “stories about stories.” The elderly woman at the center of the short film steals the local rooster, which stops the sun from shining. The woman is banished from the village when a prophecy is used to bring peace back. The woman's family makes a last-ditch effort to get the rooster back. An immersive experience to the viewers about dynamic Indian landscapes ~ The movie has already won awards at festivals, including the Bengaluru International Short Film Festival's Best Indian Competition title. It will now compete among the top short films in the globe, that is the Oscars!
