The Tamil film Kanchivaram, an evocative but tragic tale of a pre-Independence Indian Kanchipuram silk weaver that unfolds against the backdrop of the first rumblings of labour unionism in south India, is on an unstoppable roll in Toronto.

"I am really excited," said Priyadarshan, who flew into town along with lead actor, Prakash Raj, to promote the new film. "I've never made a film like this before and the response is overwhelming."

Kanchivaram is a neatly crafted, visually lush film that has none of the ingredients that define the nature of Priyadarshan's recent outputs.

The applause that the film is garnering in Toronto film Festival, he said, has enthused him to explore the possibility of attempting more offbeat films in the future.

"I can assure you that Kanchivaram isn't going to be the only film of its kind that I will make," he said.

After its world premiere in Toronto, Kanchivaram is due to travel to the Pusan Film Festival in South Korea and inquiries from several other major international festivals Palm Springs, San Francisco and Stuttgart, among others have begun to pour in.

Priyadarshan, however, admitted it wasn't easy for him to sell the idea of a film like Kanchivaram.

"I went around with this idea for eight years," said the director of hits like Garam Masala and Hungama. "But whenever I approached a prospective producer, he would say let's make a commercial movie. I am lucky that Percept Picture Company believed in the concept and backed me to the hilt," he said.

Priyadarshan, who has written the original story as well as the script of the film, also revealed that he did extensive research before he got down to making Kanchivaram.

"I spent months interviewing weavers and people associated with the cooperative movement. I based my story and screenplay on my research," he added.