Scottish ‘puts off’ Pride film show

Kolkata: The screening of ‘Gay India Matrimony’, supposed to be held at Scottish Church College on Tuesday, was cancelled, leading to the director alleging the college authorities had cancelled the show and the latter claiming it was merely postponed owing to technical issues. The screening was part of a ‘Pride beyond Pride Month’ event. Scottish principal Madhumanjari Mandal said, “It was not cancelled. Due to some technical issues, it was postponed.” She declined to elaborate on the exact reason for it. College officials said the matter would be resolved internally. Three months ago, the film, directed by Debalina Majumder, was stopped from being screened at a film festival held by Film Society Ravenshaw at Ravenshaw University. Minakshi Sanyal (Malobika), co-founder of Sappho For Equality, Koyel Ghosh, managing trustee of Sappho For Equality, and the film’s director were invited to Scottish Church as panelists for a discussion, scheduled to be held after the film’s screening. The event was held by psychology, history, philosophy and political science departments and the women and development cell of the college. “Imagine my frustration when I have to hear such arguments to stall my film’s screening,” said Majumder.She claimed a teacher called her up in the morning to say a few students protested against the screening and called up the Church of North India. “I again got a call from the teacher, saying the college had postponed, and not cancelled, the screening. Asked about the reason, she said it was for exams. I countered, saying the screening was decided a month ago, why did it dawn upon the authorities on the day of the screening?” Majumder said. Sanyal said LGBTQIA+ sensitizing events had taken place at Scottish without any problem. “It’s the first time such an incident took place. I got a call from a teacher around 8am on Tuesday. She apologised and said the event was cancelled as the matter (marriage equality) was sub judice,” she said. “At 8am, we didn’t get a mail on a postponement. We were told the event was cancelled. Around 4pm, we got an email, titled ‘an apology’, saying the screening had to be postponed ‘due to some unavoidable reasons’.”