Centre gives no reason for not clearing 31 films for IDSFFK: Keralam minister

Keralam Minister P C Vishnunadh on Sunday said the Centre had not given any reason for not clearing 31 of more than 300 films submitted for exemption from censorship ahead of the 18th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK).

Vishnunadh said the state government had urged the Centre to reconsider its decision and grant permission for screening the 31 films.

He said the films were sent to the Centre for exemption from censorship after being cleared for screening by a selection committee.

The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting subsequently sought detailed synopses of 20 films, which were provided immediately, the minister said.

"After all that, the central government has not given permission for 31 films. At the same time, they did not say permission has been denied to those films. They only said how many of the films we sent have been cleared," Vishnunadh, who holds the Tourism and Culture portfolios, told reporters.

"There is no clarity regarding the reasons for the Centre's decision," he added.

The 18th IDSFFK is scheduled to be held in Thiruvananthapuram from September 25 to 30.