Author:
Publication: Afternoon Despatch
& Courier
Date: August 12, 2004
[Note from the Hindu Vivek Kendra:
The secularists who would have howled censorship, thought police, etc.,
if films which show Hinduism and India in false colours, even if falsely,
will ignore this incident. In fact they will support this censorship, etc.,
on the plea that we cannot afford to antagonise the Communist regime in
China!]
"The Third Eye, according to Indian
mythology, symbolises a hidden power and potential unleashed on the world
for the good of human society. In the context, Third Eye, the title of
the festival, aptly describes the power of Asian Cinema," says the press
brochure of the Third Eye Asian Film Festival, which is slated to be held
in Mumbai from August 21 to 28. But the latest developments suggest that
the Third Eye has blinked or worse still clamped shut. How?
Originally a package of Tibetan
films was to be screened at the Festival. 'Kundun', 'Seven Years in Tibet',
'Little Buddha', 'Himalaya' and 'The Cup' were part of the festival lineup.
However, sources state that though the Tibetan film package will be presented
at the weeklong festival, there will be two crucial deletions.
Martin Scorsese's 'Kundun' and Jean
Jacuques Annaud's 'Seven years in Tibet' are the two films that have been
dropped by the festival committee. The screening of the other films will
carry on as scheduled. It is learnt that the two films will not be screened
as a result of direct interference on the part of the Chinese Embassy in
New Delhi. According to Festival Director Sudhir Nandgaokar, "This will
bring bad publicity to the festival." Sources inform that the Chinese Embassy
has specifically asked to chuck the two films because out of the entire
selection, 'Kundun' and 'Seven Years in Tibet' are the only films that
could cause any discomfort or dent the Chinese propaganda machine. Ironically,
'Kundun' has had various public screenings across the city as also the
country and 'Seven Years in Tibet' has been features on the satellite channel
HBO.
When asked whether the Festival
was under an obligation to stop the screenings, Mr. Nandgaonkar candidly
stated that the films will not be shown as a result of pressure from the
Chinese Embassy. It is unsure if the Chinese Embassy did in fact get in
touch with the Indian counterpart on this matter, or has been meddling
behind the government's back and in effect interfering with the internal
affairs of another country.
