Tharoor Criticises Government for Blocking 19 Films at Kerala International Film Festival
Tharoor blasts bureaucratic blunder at Kerala fest.
Senior Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor has strongly criticised the Union Government's decision to deny screening clearance to 19 films at the 30th International Film Festival of Kerala, describing it as evidence of significant cinematic illiteracy among officials. The controversy disrupted the festival's schedule, with Tharoor highlighting the absurdity of blocking classics and contemporary works alike.
Tharoor pointed out one particularly egregious example: a Spanish film titled Beef, which follows a young woman's journey as a freestyle rapper confronting grief and barriers, was reportedly denied permission solely due to its title, unrelated to any sensitive food issues. He argued that such decisions reflect a lack of refined sensibility, urging bureaucrats to appreciate the broader context of world cinema.
The denied films included Sergei Eisenstein's 1925 masterpiece Battleship Potemkin, a century-old Soviet classic widely screened in India for decades, as well as several Palestinian titles and other acclaimed works like The Hour of the Furnaces. Tharoor intervened with Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, securing clearances for some after the initial list was longer.
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In statements on X and to media, Tharoor called the episode unfortunate for Kerala's renowned film culture, where clearances have rarely been problematic. He appealed to Ministers Vaishnaw and S Jaishankar for swift approvals to prevent international embarrassment, emphasising that India's global image demands greater cultural maturity.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan deemed the central denials unacceptable, directing organisers to proceed with all screenings, asserting that the state would not yield to censorship. Partial clearances were later granted for films including Beef, amid ongoing debates over artistic freedom.
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