Kerala movie fest drops six films after MEA warning

Kerala movie fest drops six films after MEA warning

Last Updated: December 19, 2025By Tags: , , , , , ,

The Kerala Chalachitra Academy has determined to not display six movies on the IFFK after the ministry of exterior affairs raised sturdy objections. The ministry even warned of authorized motion, saying the movies went towards the nation’s overseas coverage and will have an effect on nationwide safety.

IMAGE: Kindly observe that this picture has been posted for representational functions solely. {Photograph}: File picture/Rediff archives

In an unique interview with PTI Movies, the academy’s chairman and Oscar winner Resul Pookutty stated the choice was made by the academy alone, with none political enter.

He added that the state authorities had earlier requested the academy to display all 19 movies for which permission had been refused by the union authorities. The alleged delay in granting censor exemptions to over a dozen movies on the ongoing Worldwide Movie Pageant of Kerala (IFFK) occasion had sparked widespread public outrage.

 

“They (the Centre) advised us that that they had given permission for 180 movies out of the 186 movies on the record. So, we didn’t need to create additional pressure or give the impression that your complete folks of Kerala are folks of defiance,” he stated.

Pookutty added that the chief secretary of Kerala has additionally despatched him an e mail instructing strict compliance with the orders of the MEA.

He rejected the allegations that there was a procedural delay from the aspect of the Academy in searching for clearance for the exhibition of the flicks in IFFK. In accordance with him, a sudden change in Visa norms by the Ministry of Residence Affairs sophisticated every thing.

“MHA stated that every one overseas delegates coming to IFFK ought to apply for convention/symposium visas. Earlier, we used to convey them in on enterprise visas and the process was less complicated. However for the convention visas, we might solely apply by means of a portal, with no person-to-person communication,” Pookutty stated.

He stated with out the clearance of visas for the jury members and different delegates, they had been unable to curate the flicks for the competition.

“The delay in clearance of the flicks from the union authorities was extra of a bureaucratic one than a political one. The stand of the state authorities, to display all of the 19 films that didn’t get a clearance, mounted issues up and apart from six films, we bought clearance for all others,” he stated.

He stated he personally went to Delhi as soon as to get issues cleared up as all 186 films weren’t given clearance.

Pookutty stated his bodily absence didn’t have an effect on the competition in any respect as he was all the time just about current.

“I used to have 10 to fifteen video conferences a day from London, regardless of the time distinction and coordinating every thing. I talked to the Union ministers, secretaries and different officers to hurry up the clearance formalities,” Pookuty stated.

He stated he went to London attributable to a previously agreed dedication and he took up the place of the Chairman of the Academy, informing the federal government about this dedication.

“The federal government requested me to go for my work and reassured me that every thing will probably be advantageous and that was an amazing signature from the federal government and I’m giving my 150 % again,” he stated.


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