“My client has moved a writ petition against the I&B ministry, challenging its right to drop the film after it was passed by the jury. I will keep trying my luck with other film festivals. The movies were to be screened as part of the film festival in Goa later this month. Now to face this issue at the 11th hour is outrageous, and a shot at artistic freedom, feels the director. “Sumitra Bhave’s film Kaasav, which won the Golden Lotus, was supposed to be screened at IFFI. So, it’s because of that that this move really stings,” says the disappointed filmmaker.S Durga posterSanal’s film, formerly called Sexy Durga, had run into some trouble even before MAMI film festival. They have asked the I&B ministry to send an explanation for its move and on the basis of this, it will take a decision on Thursday, November 16,” explains the lawyer.(With inputs from Subhash K. Ravi finds himself absolutely baffled at the turn of events, especially since no one had even informed him about the fact that his film is being dropped. “An international film festival has nothing to do with Indian politics. Forget me, they did not even inform the jury about the fact that they had dropped the film! My film is slotted at international festivals like Berlin and Cannes, but it’s always a dream to have one’s own country view it and the ultimate goal remains a National Award. It is a celebration of the art of cinema and as such there should be absolute freedom.
It’s ironic, really, that an industry that has information in its very name should fail to inform everyone involved before taking such a decision. The court has already taken the case into consideration, since it is an urgent matter.Advocate Manu Sebastian, who is representing Sanal in this case, says that it their petition has already been heard by the court.It is not just Sujoy who has resigned in protest of this rash move by the I&B ministry.Freedom of expression has found itself at a problematic juncture in India, as the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) has dropped two films passed by the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) jury. I have lodged a complaint with the Kerala high court in order to make my stand,” he states, decisively. China Shower Curtain Bars Suppliers The jury at IFFI was so qualified that I was sure that this would be the perfect platform to launch the film. However, it had screened at the festival with a changed name.Director Shyam Benegal, who earlier filed a petition to the I&B ministry to curb the Central Board of Film Certification’s (CBFC) power to make cuts to films, says that a move like this is simply wrong. It is heartening to find this support from others in the industry. But there’s always another festival and I will not give up,” sighs Ravi. “It was a story that needed to be told, since no one asks these models about what their lives are like.Outraged, the jury chief Sujoy Ghosh handed in his resignation in protest of the move.
When something of this sort happens, there is only one thing to do, and that is to come together as a fraternity and protest. Though they are legally able to do so , since the IFFI jury comes under their purview, it does not make the move right,” he asserts.“I’ve resigned from the chairmanship of the IFFI after this (the unceremonious abrupt exclusion of the two films, Sanal Kumar Sasidharan’s S Durga and Ravi Jadhav’s Nude),” said Sujoy, adding, “They are both very accomplished films.”Nude is a film on models, who pose in the buff for sculptors and artists. Some of the greatest films of the entire world comes to the festival and it is unfortunate that the I&B ministry has the power to veto films here. One can now only wait and watch how the fallout will affect the festival. However, she has also retracted her film as a sign of protest. “It is not just a matter of my film, it is a matter of this nation being a democracy, where artistic freedom should be allowed. Nude is such a poignant and heartbreaking film. Jha). I wept when I saw it.With IFFI set to open on November 20, such sudden changes to the schedule are bound to make waves, especially since Sujoy had recommended Nude as the opening film.
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