India a country of restless dreams and storytellers: Prasoon Joshi
CBFC chairman Prasoon Joshi on Monday called India a "country of restless dreams and storytellers" at the curtain raiser for the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chairperson Prasoon Joshi, who was supposed to attend the ongoing Jaipur Literature Festival, is going to give the event a miss.
This decision has come in the wake of repeated threats issued to him by the Karni Sena on the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmaavat, as the censor board cleared the movie’s release.
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In this year’s annual literary extravaganza, controversies around the release of Padmaavat have taken centre-stage. Joshi said in a statement issued to the organisers: “I will not be attending JLF this year and must say will miss sharing great moments with literature and poetry lovers. I am doing this so that the dignity of the event does not get compromised or discomfort caused either to the organisers, fellow writers or the attendees. And also so that the lovers of literature get to focus on creativity and not controversy.”
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Also, clearing his stance on the film’s release, Joshi said, “I did my job and sincerely took a sensitive and balanced call. As I have said earlier, certification was done with due processes, incorporating valid suggestions whilst staying mindful to the concerns of the society as well as to the canvas of cinema.”
He added, “It’s sad that we are not relying on genuine peaceful dialogue. It’s important that we keep mutual trust and faith in each other and our institutions so that the issues don’t reach this far.”
During a press conference on Day 3 of the event, columnist and novelist Shobha De hinted that Joshi might turn up at the event. She said that, “this is according to my latest information that Prasoon Joshi will attend the event. Every year someone or the other gets threatened. This isn’t something new. The security arrangement here is very good and there is no reason for us to panic.”
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