Click to play videoGoa: After protests from Hindu right wing organisations, a screening of exiled artist MF Husain's documentary Through The Eyes of a Painter was deferred on Tuesday at the ongoing International Film Festival of India in Goa.
“Some organisations in Goa petitioned to the Chief Minister and other organisations that anything concerning Husain should not be screened here. Perhaps because they have some allergy against Husain, I can't say. They didn't say anything about the content of the film. It was only that MF Husain's film should not be shown. It could have become a law and order problem, so the government of Goa recommended this screening should be put off,” says Director Directorate of Festivals SM Khan.
The 18-minute documentary which narrates the artist's experiences in Rajasthan, was a part of the Film Division of India's "Framing Time" section at the Festival this year.
Produced by Husain in 1966, the film has been screened at several international film festivals over the years and also took the prestigious Golden Lion for Short Films at Berlin in 1967.
The film community present in Goa, expressed outrage over the Festival's decision to defer the screening, and expressed support for the artist-filmmaker too.
“My reaction is of horror, because here's a film which won the highest award ever that a documentary film can win anywhere in the world. It was supposed to be screened here, but because a few groups of people don't want it, the Directorate of Film Festivals including the government of Goa are following them. It's ridiculous,” says filmmaker Shyam Benegal.
Filmmaker Sudhir Mishra also agrees with Shyam Benegal and says that it is ridiculous.
“It's absolutely ridiculous. MF Husain is very patriotic. I don't aways agree with him, but he is an artist,” says Sudhir.
“One feels bad as he's the pride of India. He loves India. I know him personally. MF Husain is one of the greatest Indians and he is truly patriotic. But the question is, he's an artist, and if you have misunderstood him or misinterpreted his work, talk to him. Don't punish him,” filmmaker Subhash Ghai says.
The debate really is not so much about Husain's patriotism, but about art and politics. The International Film Festival of India which alienates itself from any political influence, might need to ask itself if indeed art in India can exist independently and free of political risk.
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