S Durga to be screened at IFFI today

PANAJI: After several days of delay, the International Film Festival of India’s (IFFI)Indian Panorama jury will view controversial film S Durga on Monday evening, a jury member said on Sunday.

“We have been informed by IFFI that the film will be screened at 6 pm on Monday,” the jury member said on the condition of anonymity. The screening for the 10-member jury will be held at the festival grounds in Panaji.

Mumbai-based director and screenwriter Ruchi Narain also confirmed the screening.

“We have been informed about the screening details by IFFI,”

THE SANAL KUMAR SASIDHARAN FILM WAS DROPPED FROM THE SCREENING SCHEDULE ALONG WITH ANOTHER FILM, NUDE, TRIGGERING CONTROVERSY

she told a news agency.

The Sanal Kumar Sasidharan film was dropped from the screening schedule of the 48th IFFI, along with another film Nude, triggering controversy.

Three members, including the head of the jury panel, Sujoy Ghosh, have resigned from their position in protest against the dropping of the two films, while six jury members have written to the information and broadcasting (I&B) ministry raising concerns over the dropping, after they were cleared by the festival jury.

After Sasidharan petitioned the Kerala high court, the court directed IFFI to screen the film at the festival, after a censored version of the movie was screened for the jury.

An appeal by the I&B ministry to stay the court direction was also rejected by the High Court on Friday.

The order was given days after the film, selected by the 13-member jury for screening, was dropped by the ministry on the ground that the jury had viewed the uncertified version.

Challenging the single judge’s order, the Centre filed the appeal contending that the film, though selected by the jury, had not secured the exemption as required by the Panorama regulation in the absence of certification from the CBFC.

When it came up for hearing, the division bench refused to stay the order allowing the screening of the film, which narrates the horrifying experience of a hitchhiking couple.

The bench, however, clarified later that the film could be screened after the jury viewed the CBFC certified copy of the film and gave its approval.