FeTNA International Film Festival 2025: A Moment of Pride for Amaran's Visionary Cinematography
This year's inaugural edition of the FeTNA International Film Festival (FelFF) in North America, held during the 38th FeTNA Tamil Convention, marked aa bold celebration of Tamil cinema-honoring both its cultural roots and contemporary cinematic excellence (feiff.org).
Amaran's Best Director Triumph
Amidst the festival's glimmer, Amaran, the acclaimed Tamil biographical drama directed by Rajkumar Periyasamy, shone brightly. The film, inspired by the life of Major Mukund Varadarajan and starring Sivakarthikeyan and Sai Pallavi, had already captured hearts worldwide through emotionally evocative storytelling and stirring performances (Wikipedia). At FelFF, the festival's jury unanimously awarded Best Director to Periyasamy, highlighting his unwavering cinematic nerve and cultural impact.
Distinguished Presenters: Adityaram, Kathirvel Kumararaja, Vijay Manivel along with FeTNA board members.
The Best Director accolade was presented by notable self-made billionaire and philanthropist Adityaram, alongside his dear friend and film enthusiast and President of New York Tamil Sangam Kathirvel Kumararaja, together with key members of the FeTNA board. Adityaram-founder of Adityaram Group and visionary behind Adityaram Studios in Chennai has long championed fostering and producing cinematic brilliance (NETTV4U). His presence at FelFF lent further prestige to the moment, while Kumararaja's collaborative spirit symbolized cross-border Tamil unity and support for creative excellence.
Their joint presentation underscored a shared commitment: nurturing storytelling that transcends borders and resonates deeply with diverse Tamil audiences across North America.
Amaran: Cinematic Merit Across Festivals
Amaran has amassed a series of prestigious accolades, including Best Feature Film, Best Actress (Sai Pallavi), Best Cinematographer (CH Sai), and Best Director (Periyasamy) at the 22nd Chennai International Film Festival (feiff.org, Public Law Library).
• Its global reach was further affirmed with an invitation to the World Cultural Film Festival in the U.S., earning a spot among the 'Top 10 Inspiring Films' of the year (Times of India).
FelFF: A Platform for Global Tamil Narratives
The FelFF's mission is clear: to elevate Tamil-language films in North America, celebrate artistic integrity, and foster a community of bold filmmakers and risk-takers (feiff.org). As described on FelFF's FilmFreeway page, it's not about glamour-it's where a director's intent meets interpretation, and where films are 'exposed... sometimes, that's exactly what they need' (fetna-convention.org).
A Night to Remember
• Best Director - Rajkumar Periyasamy (Amaran): Presented by Adityaram, Kathirvel Kumararaja, and FeTNA board members.
• Applause for Vision: The award acknowledges Periyasamy's mastery in weaving a biographical military saga into a universal, emotionally resonant narrative.
Tamil Cinema's North American Debut: Amaran's recognition at FelFF signals a fresh chapter in global Tamil storytelling.
What It Means
⚫ For the Filmmakers: A stepping stone towards wider international acclaim and distribution.
• For Tamil Audiences Abroad: Reinforces community pride-seeing their voices and stories celebrated on a global stage.
• For FelFF's Legacy: Establishes the festival as a vital cultural bridge, fostering dialogue between Tamil creators and diasporic viewers.

- Our Overseas Correspondent Sheela Ramanan