Shashi Tharoor Criticises Ban On 19 Films At Kerala Film Festival, Calls It “Most Unfortunate”
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has strongly criticised the Union government’s decision to deny clearance to 19 films scheduled to be screened at the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), calling the move “most unfortunate” and warning that it could embarrass India globally.
Speaking from Thiruvananthapuram on Monday, Tharoor said the controversy had cast a shadow over one of India’s most respected cultural events.
Also, read| Screenings Of 19 Films, Including Palestine Themed Titles, Deferred At IFFK Amid Censor Delays
The films denied screening include several Palestinian titles such as Palestine 36, Once Upon a Time in Gaza, All That’s Left of You, and Wajib. Also on the list is Battleship Potemkin, the iconic 1928 Soviet-era film by Sergei Eisenstein, widely regarded as a landmark in world cinema.
Tharoor questioned the reasoning behind the denial, describing it as a sign of “cinematic illiteracy” within sections of the bureaucracy. He pointed out that Battleship Potemkin has been watched by hundreds of millions of people worldwide, including in India, for nearly a century, making the refusal to screen it “laughable.”
It is most unfortunate that an unseemly controversy has arisen over the central government’s denial of clearance to 19 films which were scheduled to be screened at the International Film Festival of Kerala in Thiruvananthapuram.
The original list was much longer, but several…
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) December 16, 2025
The Congress MP also raised concerns about the rejection of Palestinian films, suggesting the decisions appeared driven by bureaucratic over-caution rather than a fair artistic or cultural evaluation.
He argued that international film festivals must uphold intellectual openness and creative freedom.
IFFK, now in its 30th year, is considered India’s most popular film festival after the International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
Tharoor warned that repeated delays and cancellations could harm the festival’s credibility and global standing, especially given Kerala’s reputation as a state with a deep appreciation for serious cinema.
Also, read| IFFK 2025 Opens Today: ‘Palestine 36’ To Lead A Week Of World Cinema
He revealed that the original list of banned films was even longer, but several titles were later cleared after he personally intervened with Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
Tharoor said he has also written to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, urging swift clearance of the remaining films.
Calling for immediate action, Tharoor stressed that continued controversy would only distract from the festival’s artistic focus and cause further embarrassment to India in the international film community.
