Panaji: The controversial film, '
S Durga
', is finally to be screened for the
Indian Panorama jury
here on Monday at 6pm, but the film’s show at IIFI may depend on the Goa government’s nod, as festival organisers have to take the state’s permission for screening in theatres. The state government’s permission becomes important as there is an MoU between the Union information and broadcasting ministry and the Goa government, which gives the state the control of all the venues for the festival and its use, sources said.
Jury member and filmmaker
Ruchi Narain told TOI that the screening has been slotted for them on Monday. "I’m in Mumbai at present, but will come to Goa to watch the film," she said. Narain was among the six jury members who had written to the ministry in support of ‘S Durga’ after the film was withdrawn from the Indian Panorama section by the I&B ministry, though the jury had selected it for screening.
But even if the jury clears the film on Monday, it will leave just half a day for its screening to be slotted at
IFFI
on Tuesday, the last day of the festival. Film screenings for delegates end before the closing ceremony begins, which is scheduled for 4pm on Tuesday. “It may be very difficult for us to allow the screening of the film at such a short notice. It will completely disrupt the schedule," a government official told TOI.
‘S Durga’ director
Sanalkumar Sasidharan
has said he will file a contempt petition in the Kerala HC if the film is not screened at IFFI. Sasidharan had approached the Kerala HC after his film was withdrawn from the Indian Panorama section. A twojudge bench of the HC turned down the I&B ministry’s plea against a single judge bench order that had directed the ministry to screen the film at IFFI. The two-judge bench, however, asked the certified version to be shown to the jury first and on the basis of jury’s decision, to screen it at IFFI. Sasidharan, who was in Australia, came down to Goa on Saturday to submit a copy of his film.
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