Cinematographer and director Rajiv Menon's keenly anticipated third film, Sarvam Thaala Mayam, is set to have its world premiere at the 31st Tokyo International Film Festival. The film, a musical composed by AR Rahman, stars GV Prakash, Aparna Balamurali, Nedumudi Venu, Vineeth and DD Neelakandan. Incidentally, Prakash is Rahman's nephew.
The festival's website calls the film "a coming-of-age story set in India's social and musical landscape". The film is said to explore the clash of lead actor and his teacher set against the world of Carnatic music and modern reality TV shows.
Menon announced the film's selection for the festival on Twitter.
The cinematographer on Bombay (1995), Guru (2007) and Kadal (2013), Menon had only directed two films before, Minsara Kanavu (1997) and Kandukondain Kandukondain (2000). Both films featured music by Menon's good friend, AR Rahman.
Sarvam Thaala Mayam, screening in the World Focus section, is not the only Indian film screening at the Tokyo International Film Festival. R Balki's Pad Man (2018), starring Akshay Kumar, Radhika Apte and Sonam Kapoor, will have a special screening on 27 October, while Nitesh Tiwari's Dangal (2016) will screen at the Open-Air Cinema on 1 November.