Sanju Surendran’s ‘Fishers of Men’ Hooks International Attention with Absurdist Tale of Obsession

The upcoming Malayalam-language film, “Fishers of Men” (likewise known as “Kothiyan”), directed by Sanju Surendran, is generating significant buzz within the international film community. The project, an absurdist parable exploring the depths of human obsession, has been selected for the Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) and secured a USD 5,000 grant.

A Vegetarian’s Descent into Obsession

“Fishers of Men” centers on Sreekumar, a vegetarian bank officer in Kerala, whose life is irrevocably altered after a single, fateful encounter. Forced to consume alcohol and fish at a party, Sreekumar develops an uncontrollable obsession that dismantles his previously contented and orthodox existence. The film charts his transformation, as he sacrifices his career, alienates his family, and ultimately embraces a reclusive, mendicant lifestyle by the coast, wholly consumed by his fixation with fish.

From Busan Recognition to HAF Selection

This project marks Surendran’s follow-up to “If on a Winter’s Night,” which garnered the Hylife Vision Award at the Busan International Film Festival in 2025. “Kothiyan” was among the 17 in-development projects chosen for the 24th Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum, a major platform for Asian film financing and co-production. Cinema Express reports that Surendran expressed his enthusiasm for the HAF selection, stating it “opens doors to global collaborations and brings us closer to realizing this vision on screen.”

Themes of Purity and Transcendence

Surendran describes the film as an exploration of human obsession, stating that the narrative delves into the “impossibility of absolute purity in society.” He explains that the concept of purity – whether in food, body, or belief – often serves to reinforce power structures. The director further elaborates that fish within the film function as multifaceted symbols, representing the mundane, the sacred, and the unsettling, ultimately acting as a “portal to the forbidden.” He views Sreekumar’s descent not merely as madness, but potentially as a form of transcendence. Variety details Surendran’s perspective on the subject matter.

Creative Team and Production Details

“Fishers of Men” is written by S. Hareesh, who previously collaborated with Surendran on “Aedan: Garden of Desire.” The film is produced by Pramod Sankar, Rajeev Ravi, and Kiran Kesav through Cloud Door Films. The production team aims to secure co-production partners, international sales agents, and completion funding through HAF. Cinematography is by Manesh Madhavan, and editing is by Praveen Mangalath. The Times of India highlights the producers’ desire to build festival momentum and expand the project’s global reach.

Surendran’s Background and Previous Work

Sanju Surendran is an Indian National Film Award-winning filmmaker and a graduate of the Film and Television Institute of India, where he studied under Mani Kaul. His documentary “Kapila” won Best Documentary at the National Film Awards in 2014, and “Aedan: Garden of Desire” received the FIPRESCI Prize at the International Film Festival of Kerala in 2018. Rajeev Ravi, also a producer on “Fishers of Men,” is an acclaimed cinematographer-director and National Film Award winner for “Liar’s Dice” in 2013.

The Hong Kong International Film Festival, which hosts HAF, took place from March 17-19, 2026.