IFFI 2008: Screening of Hussain`s documentary deferred

Panaji, Nov 25: Bowing to the pressure by Hindu right wing organisations, the Films Division today decided to defer the screening of renowned painter M F Husain`s documentary at the ongoing International Film Festival of India (IFFI) here. "The screening has been deferred for the time being as there were some objections to it," Director of Film F estival, S M Khan told reporters.The 40-year-old documentary, `Through the Eyes of a Painter`, about Hussain`s experience in Rajasthan, was a part of Information and Broadcasting Ministry`s Films Division`s `Framing Time section`, scheduled to be screened today.

Hindu organisations `Sanatan Sanstha` and `Hindu Janajagruti Samiti` (HJS) had objected to the screening of the documentary, citing that there were several cases pending against Hussain in India. "There are 1,250 cases pending against him for insulting Hindu religion. How can he be a part of any festival sponsored by the government?" said Sushant Dalvi from HJS. The right wing organisations had written to Goa Chief Minister Digamber Kamat and the DFF on the first day of the festival to withdraw the documentary. The members had also met Kamat with a memorandum. The state authorities "had requested the organisers to defer the screening as it might create law and order problem in the state." The decision to defer the documentary film, which won the prestigious Golden Bear award at the Berlin film festival, was arrived at after much deliberation, as Films Division officials till yesterday had maintained that there was no change in the schedule. Bureau Report