Vidhyadhar writes: >The fiasco at IFFI over a film by M F Husain highlights the extent to which the state is in the thrall of obscurantist forces, says VIDYADHAR GADGIL
The 'ban' on the screening of the short film 'Through the Eyes of a Painter' by M F Husain at the ongoing International Film Festival of India (IFFI) has finally been withdrawn. After four days of what can only be described as theatre of the absurd, the film was finally screened during IFFI on 27 >November. All's well that ends well, they say. But is it? Hi All: Check this news item below. I wonder to freedom of expression, creative expression of M F Hussein in the below given case ? Mumbai, April 16 Painter Maqbool Fida Husain has pulled out his movie, Meenaxi — A Tale of Three Cities, out of movie theatres a day after some Muslim organisations here raised objections to one of the songs in it. “I have told my sole distributor Yash Chopra to withdraw the film from public shows with immediate effect,” Husain said in a statement today. Husain who was visibily upset, however, refused to provide any reasons for his action to reporters. “I have not made the film to make money, nor have I sold it to anyone. Therefore, I need not give any reason for the withdrawal of the screening of the film to public,” Husain said. the full item can be accessed here : http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040417/nation.htm#8
