Subhro Niyogi (THE TIMES OF INDIA; June 5, 2016)
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has blocked the release of National Award-winner Joshy Joseph's five-minute experimental film on writer Mahasweta Devi for mis-pronouncing her name in his Malayalam accent.
Joseph addresses the writer by her name in English while deliberating on the dynamics of fiction and non-fiction in 'Serendipity Cinema', which is part of a larger film in the making.
The film's certificate has been withheld even as Mahasweta has no objection with the way Joseph has pronounced her name. “How silly to make it an issue. The manner in which my name Mahasweta Devi is pronounced in the film 'Serendipity Cinema' is absolutely alright,'' said the writer, who is undergoing treatment at a hospital.
Joseph, too, has refused to have the correct pronunciation dubbed. “I stand by the pronunciation of the proper noun Mahasweta Devi as it is in this copy which is approved by the writer herself and awarded by director general of Films Division, government of India,“ he wrote in a letter to CBFC regional officer Dibyendu Das.
'Serendipity Cinema' won the first prize at the Films Division experimental films competition last year, beating entries from Mumbai, Bengaluru and Delhi.
Filmmakers are livid over CBFC's objection. “The whole of Bengal calls former Kerala CM V S Achuthanandan as 'Ochhutanondon','' said filmmaker Subhendu Chatterjee. He said the film is about a conversation in which Joseph speaks with Malayali and Mahesweta Devi with Bengali accent.
Das refused to comment, saying comments of CBFC members are classified information. “We have sent a response to the filmmaker.“
Joseph addresses the writer by her name in English while deliberating on the dynamics of fiction and non-fiction in 'Serendipity Cinema', which is part of a larger film in the making.
The film's certificate has been withheld even as Mahasweta has no objection with the way Joseph has pronounced her name. “How silly to make it an issue. The manner in which my name Mahasweta Devi is pronounced in the film 'Serendipity Cinema' is absolutely alright,'' said the writer, who is undergoing treatment at a hospital.
Joseph, too, has refused to have the correct pronunciation dubbed. “I stand by the pronunciation of the proper noun Mahasweta Devi as it is in this copy which is approved by the writer herself and awarded by director general of Films Division, government of India,“ he wrote in a letter to CBFC regional officer Dibyendu Das.
'Serendipity Cinema' won the first prize at the Films Division experimental films competition last year, beating entries from Mumbai, Bengaluru and Delhi.
Filmmakers are livid over CBFC's objection. “The whole of Bengal calls former Kerala CM V S Achuthanandan as 'Ochhutanondon','' said filmmaker Subhendu Chatterjee. He said the film is about a conversation in which Joseph speaks with Malayali and Mahesweta Devi with Bengali accent.
Das refused to comment, saying comments of CBFC members are classified information. “We have sent a response to the filmmaker.“