Panaji, Nov 28: The censor board has ordered a re-examination of the controversial film “S Durga”, derailing its court-ordered screening at IFFI that ends today, with director Sanal Kumar Sasidharan crying foul saying the government wanted this to happen and it is a contempt of court.
A screening of the censored version of the film was held for the jury Monday evening at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) here and in a letter dated Tuesday, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) wrote to the producers asking them to resubmit the movie, which was earlier given a U/A certificate.
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”.
“It appears that you have prima facie, deliberately violated the Rule 33 of the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 1983 and hence invocation of Section 5E(1) (i) of the Cinematograph Act, 1952 may be considered.
“In this connection, I am directed to inform you that the above film will be re-examined under the provision of the Cinematograph Act, 1952 and Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 1983, with the date and venue being notified to you soon,” said the letter, which was addressed to Shaji Mathew, the producer of the film.
The letter stated that the board had “received complaints from the IFFI jury at Goa over the title of the film”.
According to the letter, the director had shown “S### Durga” on the title card which the board says “has totally different implications and are effectively undermining and attempting to defeat the very basis of the title registration and changes effected thereby”.
The CBFC said the makers cannot exhibit the film further until the board reexamines it. It said a suitable date and time will be conveyed to the makers soon.
Immediately after the CBFC order, IFFI director Sunit Tandon wrote to Sanal, notifying him that the movie will not be showcased due to the CBFC’s intervention.
“This is to inform you that all steps were taken to ensure compliance with the hon’ble court’s order and a screening of the certified version of your film ‘S Durga’ was arranged last evening for the feature film jury for the Indian Panorama 2017 as duly constituted by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.
“Following the screening certain issues related to the certification of the film with reference to the title of the film were raised. This was referred to the CBFC for clarification. In response to the queries, CBFC has issued the orders attached herewith.
“As a consequence to the orders of CBFC, the film cannot be exhibited till the issues are resolved,” he wrote.
Reacting to the development, Sanal said it is not about a film anymore.
“This is a real danger that we are facing in our society now, an indication of what is yet to come,” he said.
“Now onwards if you make a film which the government does not like then at any cost they are not going to allow you to screen it anywhere. It is a fact. This is what they wanted. They probably don’t want me to release the film in the state’s theatres,” he said.
Sanal said there is nothing he can do right now.
“The only resort that we have is the judicial system and the government is so brazen that they are saying we are not going to obey even if the judiciary has passed an order. We will do whatever we want. We can quash the order… whatever. What they did last night was, they got four new members in the jury without even giving any information. It is an unusual procedure, totally illegal. Now based on that decision, those people are saying that the film cannot be screened. It is a contempt of court. This will become the debate of artistic freedom,” he said.
When contact, jury member Ruchi Narayan said, “I have done whatever was my duty and what the court directed as I was hoping the rule of law will prevail. I don’t want to say anything more.”
The film was dropped from the final IFFI list by the Information and Broadcasting ministry, prompting the director to move to the Kerala High Court.
The court ruled in Sanal’s favour and directed the ministry to screen the film at the festival and the ministry tried to obtain a stay order on the Kerala High Court’s decision but it was denied by the court.
Earlier in the day, Sanal said a majority of members of the Indian Panorama jury voted in favour of his film screened after watching its censored version last night.
“I got to know that seven of the members were in favour of the screening of ‘S Durga’, but three new members on the panel as well one of the old members opposed the screening,” Sanal claimed.
The three new members – Sudhir Chaudhary, Satish Kaushik and Vivek Agnihotri – were inducted in the jury after its chairman Sujoy Ghosh and members Apurva Asrani and Gyan Correa resigned in protest over the exclusion of “S Durga” and “Nude” from the festival.
Filmmaker Rahul Rawail was appointed new chairman of the Indian Panorama section. (PTI)
