The refusal to screen Malayalam film S Durga at the ongoing International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa has sparked debates about artistic freedom in the country. Upset over the jury’s decision to drop the film from IFFI, director S Sasidharan had approached the Kerala High Court, and the body had issued an order directing the film festival to screen the film. Despite HC’s order, the movie was not given a slot for screening.
In a development, the Central Board of Film Certification has denied certification to the movie. Here is what the board had to say about the film:
Malayalam film S Durga not to be screened at #IFFIGoa. The IFFI jury had complained to #CBFC over film title S Durga being written as S### Durga pic.twitter.com/m6Wk6GsvH7
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2017
Also read: Kerala HC rules in favour of ‘S Durga’, asks I&B Ministry to screen film at IFFI, Goa
Exasperated with the IFFI organisers’ arrogance and denial to screen S Durga, Sasidharan, in a Facebook post, said that the ‘drama happening in IFFI is really depressing’.
Read his post here:
In another post, Sasidharan wrote that the International Film Festival of Kerala has unofficially hinted they would screen the film. The director said he has not received a formal notification from the team, but would be glad if they screen a film which brought accolades to the Malayalam film industry.
Here is what his post stated:
Sasidharan’s fight with the organisers of IFFI has now taken a new turn with him protesting against the denial of permission to screen S Durga in the IFFI premises. Retaliating to the unpleasant episode, Sasidharan stood with a poster that read ‘Save Democracy’.
Sasidharan was applauded by few on Twitter for not bowing down and continuing his fight for what he thinks is right.
Director of ‘S Durga’ S Sasidharan protests in @IFFIGoa. In spite of court order organisers did not show this film. It is not only contempt of court, but murder of democracy,he says. pic.twitter.com/gQDz88kspc
— nikhil wagle (@waglenikhil) November 28, 2017
As a delegate of @IFFIGoa I support director of S Durga in his peaceful protest. Shame on you @IFFIGoa.
— nikhil wagle (@waglenikhil) November 28, 2017
Sad. A real shame… https://t.co/0hjjZjr5QU
— Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) November 28, 2017
Lukkhi Dadagiri. https://t.co/n2DJg1AZ1g
— rahul dholakia (@rahuldholakia) November 28, 2017
“The bone of contention seems to be the hashtag that follow the letter “S” in the revised title of the movie, which was earlier named Sexy Durga.” https://t.co/oFeSXGhcSs
— Poulomi (@PouloCruelo) November 28, 2017
The director @sanalsasidharan was planning a parallel screening of #SDurga near IFFI as protest, the authority has blocked all of that with this one swift move. https://t.co/1bfCuJFHSQ
— Suresh Mathew (@Suresh_Mathew_) November 28, 2017
Sounds very similar to the persistent and vehement opposition to anyone even remotely suggesting that Aadhaar is flawed. It’s basically “Our way, or there’s no way”. https://t.co/NDWqpZJlrc
— Karthik (@beastoftraal) November 28, 2017
As the curtains will be drawn on IFFI today, we wonder if any action will be taken against the authorities for defying court’s logic.
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