Cinema VinesThe censorship system that once facilitated the screening of films at Kerala’s festivals is now a stumbling block for organisers and filmmakers. The Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, which runs the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) and the International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK), says the exemption process that used to be routine has become a hurdle that can deny screenings on political grounds.
Historically, festival organisers would submit a list of titles and synopses to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B). The ministry would normally approve the list as it was, recognising that festival audiences—delegates, film professionals and scholars—are a limited group. That practice changed a decade ago when the ministry began demanding video links of films before granting exemption. The shift has led to several high‑profile denials.
One of the earliest cases occurred at the 2016 IFFK, when the ministry refused to exempt Majid Majidi’s “Muhammed – The Messenger of God” and Jayan Cherian’s “Ka Bodyscapes.” In 2017, the 10th IDSFFK saw three documentaries—covering the Jawaharlal Nehru University protests, unrest in Kashmir and the Rohith Vemula case—rejected for lack of clearance. The 2019 IDSFFK forced Anand Patwardhan’s “Vivek (Reason)” to wait until a favourable Kerala High Court order overturned the ministry’s denial.
Last year’s 30th IFFK saw 19 titles denied, including Palestinian features “Palestine 36,” “Once Upon a Time in Gaza,” “All That’s Left of You” and “Wajib,” as well as the Soviet classic “Battleship Potemkin.” The 5th World Film Festival in Kolkata cancelled the screening of Malayalam documentary “Sathyapullu (Magical Grass)” by Ramdas Kadavallur because it lacked censor clearance. Documentary filmmaker Rakesh Sharma, whose “Final Solution” chronicles the 2002 Gujarat riots, criticised the restrictions, calling them “draconian” and absurd for an event that is not open to the general public.
