THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The going gets tough for Sanal Kumar Sasidharan’s Sexy Durga with the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting showing it the red signal for exhibition in the Mumbai Film festival (MAMI).
The I & B Ministry has rejected the festival authority’s request for censor exemption for the film. “I’ve received an email informing the ministry’s decision. Now two options are left - either get the film censored or approach the court,” Sanal told Express. The film is scheduled to be exhibited in India Gold, a section presenting the best of feature and documentary films. The director said he had already submitted the film to the censor board. “The board will watch the film on Monday. In the case of an unfavourable decision, I will go to court,” he said.
The I&B Ministry’s stand will also affect the prospects of the film’s screening at the International Film Festival of Kerala. The selection committee’s current decision is to exhibit the film in the category Malayalam Cinema Today. After Sanal’s protest, Chalachitra Academy chairman Kamal communicated informally to him efforts will be made to include the film in “World Cinema” category. A censor certification or I&B Ministry’s exemption or a court order is necessary in both cases.