The veteran filmmaker’s Saawan,also Pakistan’s entry for the 90th Academy Awards, couldn’t be accommodated in IFFI’s final programming owing to “scheduling constraints”
Dean Lobo (BOMBAY TIMES; November 24, 2017)

Sanal Kumar Sasidharan’s Malayalam film, S Durga, might have earned its rightful place back in the Indian Panorama section of the ongoing 48th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) after its screening was ordered by the Kerala High Court this week. However, after Ravi Jadhav’s Marathi film Nude (also dropped from the Indian Panorama section), Saawan — Pakistan’s official entry to the 90th Academy Awards — hasn’t been featured as part of the final programming. The film was to be screened as a part of IFFI’s Cinema of the World section.

Directed and shot by Virginia-based Pakistani filmmaker Farhan Alam and edited by Indian film editor Aseem Sinha, Saawan is inspired by true events. It revolves around a polio-stricken nine-year-old child (Syed Karam Hussain) who is rejected by his father and left to die in Baluchistan’s wilderness. Driven by the memories of his mother, the child embarks on a perilous journey back home.

On October 26, Farhan had received an official letter from Sunit Tandon, festival director of IFFI (a copy of the email is with us), inviting him to present the film and interact with the audience. Speaking from Virginia, Farhan says, “Subsequently, I sent the DCP (Digital Cinema Package), the shipping cost of which was taken care of by the organisers. As mentioned in the letter, I was also offered an economy ticket and a four-night accommodation for the festival.” The letter was also copied to the High Commission of India, Pakistan, with a request to issue a gratis visa to Farhan.

However, on November 4, 16 days before IFFI commenced, Farhan received another email from Deepika Suseelan of IFFI’s Film Selection and Programming Department, stating that “Due to scheduling constraints, (they were) unable to showcase some of the titles originally planned.” Apologising for the inconvenience, the email mentioned that immediate arrangements would be made for the film DCP to be returned to him.

“It was upsetting to find that the film had been dropped. I was excited to come to India and share my film with the audience, and meet fellow filmmakers,” says Farhan, who had also heard about Nude and S Durga’s fate at the festival from Aseem.

At a time when India and Pakistan do not share great cultural relations, this film with a universal message could have served as a great unifier. Farhan says, “I was excited to participate in the festival. The subject of Saawan is not just a ‘Pakistani’ issue; it’s an issue that is shared across the globe.”

Now since the arrangements would have to be made for the screening of S Durga, we were keen to know whether there was a possibility of accommodating Saawan in the schedule, too.

We reached out to Sunit Tandon but did not hear from him till the time of going to press.

Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 22, 2017)

IFFI’s controversy-riddled Indian Panorama section opened on Tuesday with a fumble as the name of Sujoy Ghosh, the chairperson of the feature film jury who has since stepped down from the panel, was announced and an IFFI staff member came forward with his certificate and trophy at the felicitation ceremony. This was followed by Apurva Asrani’s name being announced, not once but twice, after which the host said, “guess he is missing in action,” after four members from the team ran into the venue waving their hands in a big “No”. Asrani has also resigned from the jury. While the name of the third jury member who has resigned, Gyan Correa, was omitted, that of Satarupa Sanyal, who was not present, was announced too till festival director Sunit Tandon asked the host to move on with the list.

Many other jury members, including Gopi Desai, Nikkhil Advani and Nishikant Kamat were present on the occasion. “We are here to support Pihu, the incredibly beautiful opening film. As an industry, we stand by each other and if anyone has any problem, they are free to express it as we live in a democracy,” asserted Sudhir Mishra, chairperson of the jury of the nonfeature section, adding that they were all there to celebrate cinema. “IFFI is the platform where I started my journey as a filmmaker. I was born as a filmmaker here and it is a kind of a pilgrimage for me. And I will come here no matter what the problems.”

Sridevi, who inaugurated the segment, kept her speech short and snappy, “I’m happy to be here. I declare the Panorama section now open.”

MID-DAY (November 10, 2017)

Shahid Kapoor's brother Ishaan Khattar knew he couldn't have asked for a better launch in the world of cinema when he bagged the lead role in Majid Majidi's 'Beyond The Clouds'. Now, the youngster has another reason to cheer - the Iranian auteur's drama has been selected to open this year's International Film Festival of India, which will be held in Goa from November 20 to 28.

The Oscar-nominated filmmaker, who makes his foray into Indian cinema with the trilingual, will be present for the screening along with Khattar, leading lady Malavika Mohanan, music maestro A R Rahman and Vishal Bhardwaj, who has written dialogues for the Hindi version.

Sunit Tandon, festival director, IFFI, says that considering India forms the heart of Majidi's story, it is only fitting that the movie have a grand premiere in the country. "Majid Majidi is known for his masterly cinema dealing with the touching human bonds that emerge in the midst of adversity and human suffering. Beyond The Clouds continues this trajectory in an Indian setting, making it a reflection of the international outlook of this truly Indian film festival."

The man behind Children Of Heaven (1997) and Baran (2001), Majidi had caused quite a flutter early this year when he announced that his next was set in India. Deepika Padukone had auditioned for the female lead, but was pipped by Mohanan.