11 nat’l award-winning filmmakers from Kerala seek Talak’s apology

Panaji: Twenty-nine prominent members from the Kerala film industry, 11 of them national award winners, have signed a petition demanding “an adequate explanation and apology” from vice-chairperson of Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) Rajendra Talak.

The petition has been sent to the organisers of the 49th International Film Festival of India (

Iffi

), over the November 22 incident, where during a tiff over movie screening arrangements, Talak had told a group of delegates from Kerala “go back home”.

One of the delegates, Kamal KM, has also lodged a complaint at the Panaji police station against Talak.

The petition, issued in Kamal’s support, stated the filmmakers from Kerala were hurt that “this has happened at the venue of the most important festival for cinema in India, Iffi”.

“We, the below mentioned signatories, are bringing out this statement to express our solidarity with Kamal KM, our colleague and filmmaker, and all the other delegates who were present at Kala Academy, on November 22, 2018, and were disrespected by Rajendra Talak (vice-chairman of ESG, Iffi) through his rude remarks and comments,” read the petition signed by Biju Damodaran, Rajeev Ravi, Dileesh Pothan, Aashiq Abu, Ajithkumar B. National awardees from other states who signed the application included Gurvinder Singh.

The petition has called Talak’s comments anti-constitutional and undemocratic, and that they challenge the very federal nature of Indian democracy.

“We have come to know that Talak, angered by the delegates’ protest against the mismanagement of film screening, shouted at the delegates, and Kamal K M, who was trying to hold a discussion with him, was insulted by saying that “I know you are from Kerala and you go back to your home.” This happened in front of several delegates, police officers and media persons... We demand an adequate explanation and aplogy from Mr Talak and appropriate action from authorities concerned,” the petition that has also been signed by actors, screenplay writers and cinematographers, read.

The signatories also include six members from the Kerala film industry, whose films have been screened in the Indian Panorama section of Iffi in recent years. Kerala usually sends the largest number of delegates to Iffi.