from Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji (GA)

Panaji, Nov 25: Bogging down to the pressure from Hindu right wing organizations, the Films Division has decided to 'defer' screening of the documentary directed by controversial painter Maqbool Fida Husain.

"The screening has been deferred for time being as there were some objections to it," Director of Film Festival S M Khan said. The documentary scheduled during first half of the day on Tuesday November 25

The 40-year old documentary 'Through the Eyes of a Painter' by Hussain was about his experience in Rajasthan. It was a part of Information and Broadcasting Ministry's Films Division's Framing Time section showcased during ongoing International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2008.

The Hindu Right wing organisations – Sanatan Saustha and Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) – had objected to the screening of the documentary by the 1915-born painter as there are several cases pending against him in Indian police stations.

"There are 1,250 cases pending against him for insulting Hindu religion. How can he be the part of any festival sponsored by the government," Sushant Dalvi, senior member, HJS, reacted.

The right wing organizations on the first day of the festival had written letter to DFF and also state chief minister Digamber Kamat requesting to withdraw the documentary from the festival.

The members had also met Kamat with the memorandum. "The chief minister requested the organizers to defer the screening as it might create law and order problem in the state," highly placed sources stated.

The decision to 'defer' the documentary film was arrived at after much deliberation, as Films Division officials till Monday November 24 had maintained that there is no change in the schedule.

The documentary film was shown at Berlin film festival and it had won the prestigious Golden Bear award.