Manish Tewari Slams Ministry’s Interference With IFFI Jury

The former Information and Broadcasting Minister reacts to ‘S Durga’ and ‘Nude’ being pulled out of IFFI 2017.

Former Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari on Tuesday slammed the "interference" of the government in decisions on the 48th International Film Festival of India (IFFI).

According to reports, S Durga and Nude - both films recommended by the jury -- for the Indian Panorama section, were dropped from the final list approved by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

Tewari tweeted: "Preposterous -- That I&B Ministry got two films dropped from IFFI 2017. Interference with jury decisions a new low. When Ministry tasked with defending freedom of speech and expression becomes it's slayer, it is time for the creative community to revolt against this crude censorship."

PREPOSTEROUS -that I&B Ministry got two Films dropped from #IFFI2017. Interference with Jury decisions a new LOW. When Ministry tasked with defending Freedom of Speech & Expression becomes it’s SLAYER it is time for the creative community to revolt against this CRUDE censorship

— Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) November 14, 2017

IFFI will take place in Goa later this month.

Ravi Jadav's Nude, a Marathi film, and Sanal Kumar Sasidharan's Malayalam movie S Durga, were among the 26 feature films that the 13-member jury for IFFI's Indian Panorama section.

In view of the Ministry's decision, filmmaker Sujoy Ghosh, who was appointed the head of jury for feature films for the gala, resigned on Monday.

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