Director responds as government blocks Sexy Durga screening at MAMI citing displeasure with film title
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; September 27, 2017)

It may have won applause at various film festivals across the world, but looks like director Sanal Kumar Sasidharan will not be able to display his labour of love in his own country. Sasidharan’s Malayalam film, Sexy Durga, has been refused clearance from the Information & Broadcasting Ministry for screening at the upcoming Mumbai Film Festival.

MAMI applied for the exemption twice, but was rejected on both occasions. The ministry has denied exemption as it feels the title “may hurt religious sentiments”. Ironically, the title does not refer to goddess Durga, but to the female protagonist in the film.

Speaking to mid-day, an anguished Sasidharan says, “They say the name is hurtful to the religious sentiments, but Durga is a common name in this country. I am feeling violated in this case. It’s unconstitutional to deny me freedom of speech. This is infringement of the creative rights of filmmakers.”

The movie was chosen in the Indian Competition section at MAMI, which is scheduled to run in the city from October 12-18. While a clearance from Censor Board of Film Certification is not mandatory for a film to be screened at a festival, exemption from the I&B Ministry is a must — a count that Sexy Durga has failed to meet.

The director is hurt that festivals, which were the only opportunity to showcase one’s work without the fear of censorship, too are cowering under pressure. “I wish film festivals take a stand over issues like this. MAMI is setting a wrong precedent by keeping quiet about this. I understand they have sponsors who limit them, but I wish they speak up for filmmakers. It’s sad that decisions like these are [taken] year on year, making a mockery of the celebration of cinema that the festival stands for.”

Sexy Durga revolves around a runaway couple and sheds light on the misogynistic conditions that women are subjected to. It bagged the prestigious Tiger Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam.

We reached out to authorities at MAMI, but they remained unavailable for comment.