Shashi Tharoor Calls for MoM Intervention in Kerala Film Festival Dispute
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has publicly urged the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to overturn a reported decision to deny screening clearances for 31 documentaries slated for the International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala.
Tharoor reposted a newspaper claim that the ministry had refused certificates for a batch of films, linking the alleged action to an infringement on the constitutional right to free expression. He appealed to Minister Ashwini Vaishnav to intervene and reconsider the decision.
The festival, running from September 25‑30 in Thiruvananthapuram, had earlier announced 18 official selections, nine international non‑fiction entries, three award‑category winners and a single Nepali package title. The disputed list included "Parliament Street," "Sanitized Republic: Cast and Contracts," "The Globe," "Memories of a Window," "Birds of War," "Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk" and "Our Land."
"The Globe" is a Malayalam production. "Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk" follows a Palestinian photographer based in Gaza. "Memories of a Window" uses crowd‑recorded footage to chronicle Iran’s protest movement, while "Birds of War" combines personal conflict photography with archival material.
The Kerala State Chalachitra Academy had submitted a catalogue of 347 films to the ministry, seeking exemption from the regular certification process. Following the alleged denial, Kerala’s Tourism, Culture and Cinema Minister P. C. Vishwanathan wrote to the centre, asking for a fresh look at the decision and highlighting the importance of documentaries in presenting varied societal narratives.
The ministry later responded, affirming that no film had been denied a screening permit. It said that detailed synopses for over six films were required, and that certain titles had been forwarded to sector‑specific authorities for further scrutiny.
The incident underscores the delicate interplay between regulatory frameworks and artistic liberty within India's festival circuit.