Sanal Kumar Sasidharan’s controversial film S Durga has been finally shown a green signal for a theatrical release by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). In a conversation with Quint, Filmmaker Sasidharan confirmed that the CBFC revising committee is now fully satisfied and have stated that the film is devoid of any objectionable content. However, they also added the pre-condition that the film would only be eligible for screening if no title other than ‘S Durga’ is used during film screenings or any promotional activities.
Controversies around the Malayalam film started doing the rounds after the film was dropped off from jury-suggested shortlisted films for Indian Panorama section at The International Film Festival of India (IFFI). As a result, Filmmaker Sasidharan took a firm stand against the jury’s decision and moved the Kerala High Court. The director had also lashed out at the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) and stated that it is currently in a bad shape. “It has become a nonsense organisation forgetting its aims. How many more years can it run the IFFK on controversies? Film festivals are not festivals actually; they are platforms of discussion, discovery and redefining concepts. IFFK needs to see the mirror and understand its bad shape now.”
