PETITION SIGNED AGAINST SCREENING 'S DURGA' AT IFFI 2017

Sexy Durga which was re-titled as S Durga has been embroiled in many controversies. It began with the CBFC asking the director, Sanal Kumar Sasidharan, to remove Sexy from the title and replace it with an S, because the former title was taken as an insult to Goddess Durga which has absolutely nothing to do with the film.

The story revolves around a couple who are hitchhikers and are probably eloping in the middle of the night. To reach the railway station the couple decides to take a lift in the car from two men. What transpires later is how the events take a turn in the film, throwing light on woman's safety and her inhibitions. The film's spread its message without even hinting at violence and that's exactly why it deserves the recognition and accolades it's receiving. The film has also won the Hivos Tiger award in Rotterdam where it premiered earlier this year.

The recent developments in the scenario are that even after the film was approved by the Kerala High Court to be screened at the IFI 2017, the jury did not respond to the news until recently,when a letter from Sunit Tandon, director of the 48th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) was posted on social media, asking for the director of the film, Sasidharan, to submit the copies of the film. With this, the makers and the cast of the film must have breathed a sigh of relief. But just then another issue emerged where six Hindu groups signed petitions against the film asking the jury to not screen the film.

They raised the issue regarding the title and how it was targeting the Hindu Goddess and simultaneously hurting the sentiments of crores of Hindus. A prefix to the name of a woman is now a political issue, whereas several important issues go unnoticed by the same population.

We can only wait and hope for justice to be served to the entire team! Hoping their hard work pays off and the film gets its due!