KOCHI: While Sexy Durga’s ouster from International Film Festival of India is drawing a lot of flak, the multiple-award winning film had its Kerala premiere in the capital. And, the crowd flowing out of Aries Plex after the show just had one question in mind – why is this brilliant film, which bagged a bevy of awards in prestigious fetes across the globe, is denied screening in India? “I couldn’t find anything provocative in this film. They even changed the title to S Durga and yet the film is being attacked,” says Abhilash, a film buff.
Organised as a fund-raiser event for the Kazhcha Indie Fest, a parallel festival to be held on the first four days of IFFK, the screening saw a large turnout. “I am happy to know that every individual in this hall paid Rs 500 to watch this film,” said veteran filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan who also expressed his disapproval over the I&B ministry’s decision to remove Sexy Durga from the Indian Panorama section of IFFI.
Murali Gopi, one of the very few mainstream figures to support the film in public till its premiere, was also present for the screening. “The only apt word to define this movie, other than ‘terrific’, is ‘relevant’. In a country where absolute adoration co-exists peacefully (yes!) with terrible disrespect, the film also redefines two words: ‘Sexy’ and ‘Durga’. Take a bow, Sanal. Take their blow, as well, for It’s the price you pay. The prize you get, as well,” he posted after the show.
“I would say this is real fascism, they are trying to silence all voices of dissent,” says director Sanal Kumar Sasidharan. He also points out the furore over Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavathy that has reached an ugly stage. “It’s a cultural tragedy,” he says. Sexy Durga, the only Indian film to win the coveted Tiger Award, has been facing attacks on the home turf as well.
The film submitted in the International Competition section in 22nd IFFK was announced as part of Malayalam Cinema Today category. “No jury in any festival will pick films from one section to add in another. They did it without informing me and I decided to withdraw the film. When I spoke to the IFFK officials they came out with some ridiculous logic and I realised it was personal. They are just trying to show the world that how they will treat a filmmaker who has his own stands.”
He agrees that Kazhcha Indie Fest is a mode of protest, a platform for indie films that received unfair treatment at venues like IFFI and IFFK. “Around 12 films from various Indian languages will be screened at Lenin Balavadi as part of the festival,” he adds