Dear Prime Minister,
I am a humble film maker living on the southern tip of this large
country that you govern. Like ninety percent of the people in this
great country, I too was born in an economically weak family. Though
there were no godfathers to give a helping hand, based on my own
willpower, I managed to get a degree in Law. Because my aim in life
was not financial gains, I was devoted to my ambition since my young
days to be an Art film maker. I began making inexpensive films
because I didn’t have the money to make big budget films. In 2013,
my first feature film, which was made with crowd funding, bagged the
Kerala State Award for Best Director. My second film in 2014 bagged
the Kerala State Award for Best film. Third film in 2017 bagged the
prestigious Tiger Ward for Best Film in the Rotterdam International
Film Festival. Let me bring it to your notice that this was the first
time an Indian film was getting this prestigious award in Rotterdam.
Apart from Rotterdam, this film won three other Best Film awards in
Geneva, Mexico and Armenia. I don’t know if we have many other
films bagging this much of topmost awards in International Film
Festivals. Though it brought much fame for India abroad, it was met
with much disregard and suppression in India itself. This film could
have been made a strong mark in the coming National Film Awards and
be a contender for the awards. But, most painfully and with much
resentment, I had to take a decision not to send my film to the
National Film Awards. You may not know the circumstances that led to
my decision. I don’t even know whether you will get to read this
letter. But, I am writing this only in the belief that it is my duty
as a citizen who loves the democratic set up and plurality of
existence in this country to proclaim this aloud.
The reason why I am not sending this film to compete for the most
coveted film award for an Indian film is that I am sure, in the light
of personal experiences, that a judicious decision will not be taken
in the case of my film. Permission was repeatedly not granted for
showing this film in the Mumbai International Film Festival. The
Information and Broadcasting Ministry under your Government had
denied permission quoting the reason that the title of my film ‘Sexy
Durga’ will hurt religious sentiments. My objective in the film was
to raise the question of why a woman worshipped as Mother, Devi and
the omnipotent Durga was treated on the streets as a sexual object by
the male population of India, even if her name was Durga,. Though I
wrote to the Information and Broadcasting Minister clarifying that
the film is not about Devi Durga or that the film contains nothing to
hurt the religious sentiments of anyone, and though around 2000
people had endorsed this letter, the Ministry did not back out from
its standpoint against the film. The direction to me was to get the
Censor certificate.
When I approached the Censor Board, they said the title Sexy Durga
was the only issue and there was no need for other changes. Because I
wanted Indians to see a film portraying an Indian reality, I changed
the title to ‘S Durga’ and got a U/A certificate from the Censor
Board. But, yet, the Ministry persists with its antagonistic
attitude. In the recently concluded Goa Film Festival, the Jury had
unanimously selected this film to be shown, but the Ministry
intervened and stopped the film being shown. It even led to the Jury
Chairman and a few members resigning. Then, I approached the High
Court of Kerala demanding justice and obtained a judgment in my
favour. The attitude of the Ministry did not relax even then. It went
for an appeal before the Division Bench. But, the Division Bench also
upheld that my film should be exhibited. But, what the Ministry did
was to illegally induct three new members to the Jury and make them
give a wholly irrelevant complaint to the Censor Board and thus get
the Censor Certificate suspended. Through this drama enacted hours
before the conclusion of the International Film Festival at Goa, the
Ministry succeeded in keeping my film out of this prestigious Film
Festival of India.
I approached the Hon’ble Kerala High Court again against the action
of the Censor Board to suspend the Censor Certificate and obtained an
order to restore the Certificate. It is now eligible for submission
to the National Film Awards. But, I did not submit it because I have
no hope that I will get a judicious decision from a Ministry that had
taken an antagonistic stand against my film and had challenged me in
court as if I am an alien. Even you may agree with my stand if you
examine these facts closely.
I have heard you speak at many forums that you are a person who grew
up experiencing all the travails of an ordinary citizen. I too have
grown up through such, if not lower, circumstances. Just because I
make films, please don’t misunderstand that I am a big film maker.
The total expenditure on my films may, perhaps, not match the amount
spent by the Ministry in courts to block my film.
Do you feel that State machinery should behave in this way with an
artist who is a common citizen of this country? I do not know whether
you are aware of the growing intolerance towards arts and independent
thoughts, not only against my film, in this country? A mob mentality
that approach with prejudice and riot against films, books, different
food habits etc is on the rise in the country. Is it without your
knowledge that the various organs of the Government are taking an
encouraging attitude towards such violent mobs and childish
outbursts, without confronting them legally? Or, is it that all such
inappropriate activities have your silent consent?
Instead of protecting the artists and thinkers who advance different
notions and discussion points, the Government under you always go to
court with arguments supporting the outcries from mobs. Is this the
great Indian civilization that you and your political party uphold?
In a country like ours where all kinds of civilizations, ideas and
religious beliefs that co-exist, unlike in no other country, do you
think any independent thought can exist with unanimous consent?
There was a large population in this country who believed that
practices like human and animal sacrifice, child marriage and Sati
were their rights. Those mobs had always attacked those who talked or
worked against their traditions. But, the people who governed in
those days were ones protected the thinkers and artists from such
attacks and thus built India as the India that we have inherited.
Let me remind you with pain that the Government under your leadership
now takes a stand that brandishes its sword against all independent
thoughts. It will only help in transforming this country from an open
minded society to a society that considers all independent thinkers
as adversaries and subject them to attack.
I know nothing will happen to the National Film Awards just because I
did not submit my film. But, if a citizen feels insecure that he
cannot get justice from a Ministry that is bound to perform
constitutionally, it has dangerous portents. You may not consider the
International Film Festival or the National Film Awards so important
as to come to your attention. But, I believe that if the very
institutions that are meant to protect independent expressions of
thoughts and freedom of opinion take a stand favourable to mob
mentality, it is an extremely dangerous and serious situation. My
non-submission may be a great relief to the Ministry. I don’t have
the time to spend on court cases and skirmishes with the State. But,
I am bringing all this to your kind attention only so that I should
not be blamed for not telling you about the alarming situation that
exists in this country.
Sir, Finally my film, after going through a lot of unwanted problems
and struggles is in theatres now. Thousands of people so far watched
the film with peace, hundreds of reviews written and many debates and
discussions everywhere. There is not even a single incident of
breaking law-and-order and religious sentiments, which were the
primary arguments of your ministry to block the film. When the film
is running in theatres peacefully, it is proven that all those
allegations were baseless.
Sir, as a citizen of this democratic country, I really wish to know,
what was the reason behind all the atrocities against my film from
your Government. But sadly I know that, even you will not have any
answer for that..
I stop in the hope that this beautiful country that conjoins many
differences of opinion and cultural divisions lives for long.
Hopefully
Sanal Kumar Sasidharan
A citizen of India
