Thiruvananthapuram, Dec. 19 -- Kerala State Chalachitra Academy chairman and Oscar-winning sound designer Resul Pookutty on Friday responded to the controversy surrounding the removal of several films from the screening list of the 30th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), stating that the decision was imposed by the Centre citing diplomatic concerns.
Clarifying the issue, Pookutty said the Academy had received directions from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, conveyed through the state chief secretary, to drop six films from the festival programme due to the absence of political clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs. The films were reportedly flagged for reasons linked to India's foreign relations.
Expressi...