Ravenshaw film fest kicks off sans ‘controversial’ movies
Following a day-long protest by a student group, Ravenshaw University in Odisha's Cuttack city allowed the scheduled film festival to begin at 10.30 a.m. on Friday, but without the screening of two films - Had Anhad and Gay India Matrimony.
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Cuttack: Following a day-long protest by a student group, Ravenshaw University in Odisha's Cuttack city allowed the scheduled film festival to begin at 10.30 a.m. on Friday, but without the screening of two films - Had Anhad and Gay India Matrimony.
According to sources, the university's Film Society cancelled the festival moments before its scheduled inauguration on Thursday due to a "threat call" against screening the two films. It was scheduled to take place between March 2 and March 4 at Ravenshaw Convention Centre's main auditorium. During these three days, parallel sessions with directors, film scholars, and resource persons were planned in addition to an exhibition on celebrated filmmaker Satyajit Ray.
Pather Panchali and Charulata, two films by Satyajit Ray, will be shown.
Several students demonstrated in front of the vice-office chancellor's in protest of the decision to cancel the event without explanation. They suspected the reason was an anonymous phone call against screening these two films.
Vice-Chancellor Sanjay K Nayak declined to comment.
Many people believe that the authorities should have discussed this issue much sooner before the festival began, as last-minute cancellation is an insult to both guests and organizers.
