Sagar Puranik's Dollu chosen for Berlinale's European Film Market

National-award-winning director and actor Sagar Puranik's debut feature, Dollu, has been shortlisted to be screened at the 72nd Berlinale's European Film Market.
The film has been shortlisted by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India, and the Confederation of Indian Industry as one of the nine films that will be showcased at the festival.
“It feels great that the selection panel felt that Dollu could be one of the films to represent India,” shares Sagar. Thanking his producer for the opportunity and the film's entire crew, Sagar tells us, “It is such a surreal feeling. I have received a National Award before, I know what that feels like. Besides, Dollu was previously selected in the Indian Panorama Film Festival, among several others and I’m familiar with those feelings, but the government choosing this film, that too for such a huge festival, is a new feeling altogether.”

The first productional venture of director Pavan Wadeyar and Apeksha Purohit, Dollu is based on popular folk art form Dollu Kunite. The film was earlier selected for Dhaka International Film Festival and Dallas ft Worth South Asian Film Festival (virtual).
About his film garnering international attention, Sagar adds, “The sensibilities were set for global standards even when we were shooting. We knew what we were making. We wanted to represent our cinema, our culture, our filmmaking before a global audience. The global audience has always been the target and the film was made with an intention to screen at festivals. It's going on the same track and fortunately, we have been shortlisted several times.”