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Renowned documentary filmmaker Rakesh Sharma was both delighted
and saddened when the National Award committee selected his
hard-hitting "Final Solution", on the Gujarat communal violence of
2002, for the Special Jury Award. "I am delighted and saddened at
the same time," Sharma told IANS in an interview.
"Delighted because after receiving 30 international awards for
my last two films, this is my first National Award! Delighted also
as now Doordarshan will show the film to a wider audience in view
of its policy convention and the Supreme Court and Bombay High
Court directives to show National Award winning films.
"Saddened because the ugly shadow of censorship continues to mark
the National Awards, leading to its boycott by a section of
documentary filmmakers," he added.
His award-winning film graphically documents the changing face of
rightwing politics in India through a study of the sectarian strife
in Gujarat five years ago. However, it faced troubles with the
censor board banning it in 2004 thanks to its charged content.
Sharma says there should not be any censorship on documentary
films.
"'Final Solution' itself is a perfect illustration of why there
should be no censorship for documentaries. The president of India
is now recognising the film for its excellence.
"The jury selected the film 'for its powerful, hard-hitting
documentation with a brutally honest approach lending incisive
insights into the Godhra incident, its aftermath and the abetment
of large scale violence'," he said.
"But the censor board rejected it on the grounds that it promotes
communal disharmony among Hindu and Muslim groups and presents the
picture of Gujarat riots in a way that may arouse communal feelings
and clashes between Hindu-Muslim groups.
"The censor said the film attacks the basic concept of our
republic, i.e., national integrity and unity. Certain dialogues
involve defamation of individuals or body of individuals."
"Final Solution" was rejected by the Mumbai International Film
Festival (MIFF) 2004 on the ground that it wasn't good enough. The
organisers refused to screen it, let alone allow it into the
competition.
"Ironically, a week after MIFF, 'Final Solution' created history
at Berlin by winning two awards, including the Wolfgang Statudte
award, never given before to a documentary film! The film now has
over 20 international awards and has been screened at over 80
international film festivals," said Sharma.
He sincerely hopes that the government will do away with censorship
for documentaries.
"Documentaries should instead be brought under the purview of the
Press Council of India - after all, NDTV news channel's special
report on Gujarat riots and 'Final Solution' showed the same to
the audience. So it is absurd to subject 'Final Solution' to a
ban!"
By Arpana
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