S Durga Cleared by CBFC Revising Committee​, Director Says 'You Can't Do Politics Over Cinema'

Malayalam filmmaker Sanal Sasidharan’s controversial film S Durga has been cleared by Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) revising committee after it was stopped from being screened at the International Film Festival of India by the CBFC itself, saying the "boxes" used in the movie’s altered title gave “a different implication.”

S Durga, which tells the story of a couple stranded on a deserted highway at night, was initially dropped from IFFI 2017 by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, prompting festival jury Chief Sujoy Ghosh and two other members to step down.

Earlier this year in January, the Kerala High Court had directed CBFC and its regional officer to take necessary steps to re-examine the film in accordance with the provisions of the Act and Rules.

Sasidharan, who is relieved and happy with the decision, told News18.com “The revising committee has finally cleared the movie without any changes. I’ll just have to submit an affidavit to them that no title other than ‘S Durga’ would be used in the promotion or poster of the film. I’m hopeful that I’ll soon be able to screen the movie for the audience.”

Though Sasidharan said he hopes there will be no more problems now, unnecessary controversies often make many artists lose confidence in their craft, noting, “These things obviously demotivate the artist as not only does it waste one’s time but also one’s energy. It’s unnecessary. Cinema is primarily an art. You can’t do politics over it. That’s what I personally believe.”

Recently, a complaint was filed against Malayalam song Manikya Malaraya Poovi, featuring the overnight internet sensation Priya Prakash Varrier, allegedly for hurting Muslim sentiments.

Talking about the same, Sasidharan said, “All these fringe groups are slowly becoming powerful because our government is directly or indirectly supporting them. It always chooses to remain silent. And I think nowadays it has become a fashion that whatever you do someone or the other will get offended by it. So, it’s really important for us to fight for our rights.”