Shashi Tharoor Calls It ‘Most Unfortunate’ As 19 Films Face Screening Delay At IFFK | Read Note

The 12th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) has been hit by controversy after several scheduled screenings were cancelled due to the lack of screening clearance from the Union Ministry of Information

and Broadcasting (I&B). The decision has drawn criticism from filmmakers, festival delegates and political leaders, with Congress MP Shashi Tharoor strongly opposing the delay.

Tharoor described the situation as “deeply unfortunate” and said that 19 films remain without permission to be screened at the festival in Thiruvananthapuram. He raised concerns over the impact of the decision on the festival’s credibility and the inconvenience caused to audiences.

In a post shared on social media on Tuesday (December 16), Tharoor said the number of affected films was initially higher. He noted that some clearances were granted after he intervened with Union I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, following a request from IFFK chairman Riyas LP. However, he added that the remaining films are still awaiting approval, which now lies with the Ministry of External Affairs.

It is most unfortunate that an unseemly controversy has arisen over the central government’s denial of clearance to 19 films which were scheduled to be screened at the International Film Festival of Kerala in Thiruvananthapuram.

The original list was much longer, but several…

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) December 16, 2025

Tharoor questioned the reasoning behind blocking films that are widely recognised in global cinema, and criticised the approach taken by authorities.

“The list of 19 films suggests an extraordinary degree of cinematic illiteracy on the part of the bureaucracy. To deny clearance to a classic like “Battleship Potemkin”, a 1928 film on the Russian Revolution which has been viewed by literally hundreds of millions around the world (and in India) over the last century, is laughable. Denying permission to some Palestinian films reflects bureaucratic over-cautiousness rather than the cultural breadth of vision that should be involved when it comes to world cinema,” he wrote.

He said he has urged both the I&B Minister and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to resolve the matter quickly. Tharoor warned that continued delays could harm India’s cultural standing and cause embarrassment, especially in a state like Kerala, which has a strong cinema culture.

The issue arises from existing rules that require films without Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) approval to obtain a special exemption from the I&B Ministry for festival screenings. The absence of these exemptions has disrupted the IFFK programme.

Veteran filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan also criticised the decision, expressing surprise over objections to internationally known films such as Battleship Potemkin, The Hour of the Furnaces, and the Spanish film Beef. Speaking to ANI, he said the move reflected a poor understanding of cinema and warned against judging films based on their titles or perceived political themes.

Several screenings remain on hold, leaving delegates uncertain. Festival organisers are continuing discussions with authorities in an effort to clear the remaining films before IFFK concludes on December 19.