Kerala Defies Center, Promises To Screen Films Being Banned At Fest
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM -Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has declared that all films denied screening permission by the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting will be showcased at the 30th International Film Festival of Kerala (2025. This decision follows the federal government’s refusal to grant mandatory exemption certificates for 19 scheduled films.
The Chief Minister described the Union government’s move as unacceptable. He characterized the censorship as an example of authoritarian rule aimed at suppressing diverse creative expressions and dissenting voices. Vijayan asserted that Kerala would not submit to such acts and confirmed that the festival would proceed with the banned screenings.
Organizers reported that the absence of exemption certificates had already stalled the screenings of seven films over the last two days. Currently, a total of 19 films are stuck in the clearance process.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor stated that while he had successfully intervened with Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to clear several other films, 19 remain blocked. He specifically criticized the denial of the 1928 classic ‘Battleship Potemkin’, calling the decision a sign of cinematic illiteracy and bureaucratic over-cautiousness regarding Palestinian cinema. He urged both Vaishnaw and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to grant immediate clearances to avoid further embarrassment.
Renowned director Adoor Gopalakrishnan expressed similar displeasure during an interview with ANI. He described the ban on classics like ‘The Hour of the Furnaces’ and ‘Battleship Potemkin’ as a joke, noting that these films are essential textbooks for cinema students. Gopalakrishnan also highlighted the Spanish film ‘Beef’, explaining that the title had been misunderstood by authorities. He argued that the decisions reflected a lack of understanding of the medium and urged the government to reconsider its stance with more humility.
Typically, films without a Central Board of Film Certification certificate are screened at international festivals after obtaining a special exemption certificate from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The current disruption at IFFK 2025, which runs until December 19, stems entirely from the non-availability of these documents. (ANI)
