When a film disappears and no one asks why
· Scroll
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Bhopal is often called the “retirement city” for its slow-paced, serene lifestyle. For someone who has lived here for most of the last decade, this also means there are few cultural spaces in the Madhya Pradesh capital where young people can be exposed to new ideas. So, I was glad when I heard that Bhopal would host its first film festival on February 21 and February 22. The Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board was listed as one of the sponsors.
Among the “seven curated showcase screenings” was filmmaker and writer Varun Grover’s Kiss, according to the film festival’s website. But it was not screened.
On the evening of Day 1, a cryptic message was posted on the festival’s Instagram page: “The films recently mentioned in certain reports are not part of our official showcase.”
The film was listed on the festival’s website and announced on Instagram. However, on the day of the event, it did not appear on the screening schedule – outside the venue, white tape was stuck on the notice board to blank it out.
Films screened at festivals require exemption certificates from the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry. Grover told Scroll that he had been informed by the organisers that the certificate for his film had been withdrawn at the last moment.
Looking at the...