Veyil: First Tamil film at Cannes

Veyil, released in late 2006 by director Shankar's production house S Pictures, was one of Tamil cinema's most appreciated films. Like the previous S Pictures movies, Kadhal and Imsai Arasan 23-am Pulikesi, Veyil, directed by debutant Vasantha Balan and starring Bharath, Pasupathi and Bhavana, also turned out to be a big box office hit.

Now, Veyil has achieved greater acclaim, much more than Shankar's earlier productions. It has been selected for screening at the Cannes film festival this year; the festival will be held from May 16-27. Veyil, which will be part of the Tous les Cinemas du Monde section, will be screened at the Le Cinema du Monde theatre at 6.30 pm on May 19.

Vasantha Balan scripted Veyil based on his own experiences, with his hometown Virudhunagar as the backdrop. "The protagonist in Veyil is inspired by my own younger brother. When I compared both of us, I felt there was a story that could be told," Balan had told rediff.com before the release of the film.

He had also said, "My characters may be based in a small place like Virudhunagar but the emotions are universal. Like love is universal, the relationships you see in the film are also universal." Perhaps it is this universality that attracted the Cannes festival authorities.

Vasantha Balan will be at Cannes during the screening, a first for a Tamil film.