I'd Have Lost My Life If I Made Films'

'If I had continued staying in Kerala and making films, I would have probably lost my life.'
'I am no longer a film-maker.'

Malayalam director Sanal Kumar Sasidharan, whose 2014 film Sexy Durga created a stir, is now trying to release his film, Vazhakku.

Sanal claims that the film's leading man Thomas Tovino is obstructing the release.

Tovino has vehemently denied this, arguing that it would be in his interest to release Vazhakku as he is the producer.

When Subhash K Jha caught up with Sanal in the US, he said he had given up film-making and left the country.

"I stopped making films some years ago. My last film was Vazhakku, which is in the news for all the wrong reasons," he says.

Why did Sanal take such a drastic decision?

"Too many threats. If I had continued staying in Kerala and making films, I would have probably lost my life. I was being threatened from all mediums possible. For the past few years, I live in the US. I am no longer a film-maker."

Sanal, whose Sexy Durga was a chilling film on sexual harassment, was accused of the same crime.

"A false sexual harassment accusation was made against me. I was arrested. That's when I decided to leave the country. You will be surprised to know that two years have passed, and no case has been registered against me. No legal procedure, nothing." Sanal says.

Sanal blames Tovino for Vazhakku getting stuck.

"Tovino Thomas feels it will harm his career. If he felt this way, why did he do this film with me?"

Sanal uploaded the entire film on Vimeo and shared the link on his Facebook page, and captioned it: 'Cinema should be viewed by the audience. For anyone who wants to watch it, here is Vazhakku (The Quarrel). You will understand now why the movie hasn't been released.'

The film has been taken down from the Web site.