KOCHI: Film makers, writers, artists and journalists from across the country have condemned the denial of permission by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry for screening three documentary films at the International Documentary Short Film Festival in Kerala. The Unbearable Being of Lightness, March March March and In the Shade of Fallen Chinar are the films denied of screening permission at the festival which is ongoing in Thiruvananthapuram. In a letter to I&B Minister Venkaiah Naidu, 350 film makers, writers and journalists said they are deeply disturbed by the denial of permission for screening. Girish Karanad, Anand Patwardhan, Cyrus Mistry, Ammu Joseph, S. G. Vasudev, Girish Kasaravalli, Vidya Rao and several others signed the joint statement and letter to the minister.
“We want to question the basis for denying screening permission to these films. A brief perusal of the themes of the films denied screening – the suicide of research scholar Rohit Vemula, on the artists in Kashmir and on the student protests at JNU – indicates that each one of these films is dealing with prominent political issues that that have led to much discussion within the country”, the letter said.
The letter also pointed out that the ministry has not given any reason for withholding the permission for screening. Unequivocally condemning the action the ministry the signatories appealed to the ministry to “immediately issue an exemption letter to the three films and ensure that films at festivals do not face arbitrary censorship in the future”.
Kerala High Court dismisses pleas by docu film directors
The Kerala High Court on Thursday dismissed two petitions filed by directors of docu films selected for the ongoing International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala challenging the Centre’s refusal to exempt the films from the provisions of the Cinematograph Act. The petitions were filed by Kathu Lukose, director of March March March and Shawn Sebatian- directed Shade of Fallen Chinar.
Kathu’s film deals with student protests at Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi while the latter had interviews with students of the University of Kashmir. The festival is being held from June 16 to 20. The court pointed out that the petitioners have no locus standi to file the petitions. In fact, it should have been filed by the Kerala Chalachitra Academy, organiser of festival.
