Gandhi's great-grandson criticises Kerala government over film festival row

Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, has voiced frustration over Kerala's handling of a contentious dispute involving the state's premier documentary and short film festival. The controversy centres on the Union government's refusal to grant permission for 31 films that had been selected for screening at the International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK).

Gandhi criticised the state administration for failing to demonstrate adequate courage in confronting what he characterised as an authoritarian decision by New Delhi. He suggested that the Kerala government did not mount a sufficiently robust challenge to the Centre's action, allowing the denial of clearance to proceed without adequate resistance.

The incident highlights ongoing tensions over cultural and artistic autonomy in India, with film festivals frequently becoming flashpoints between state and central authorities over content regulation and freedom of expression. The IDSFFK row underscores broader concerns about governmental interference in independent cultural events across the country.

The rejected films' selection process and the specific grounds cited by the Centre for denying clearance have not been publicly detailed, leaving questions about the criteria applied to the decision. Film industry observers have expressed concern about the implications of such interventions for the future of independent film festivals in India.