Mumbai film festival not to screen Pakistani film

Pakistani film Jago Hua Savera will not be screened at the Mumbai film festival anymore.

The screening of the movie, which was slated to be shown in the restored classics section, attracted much criticism owing to the prevailing hostile sentiments towards Pakistan after the Uri attacks.

Trouble for the movie started when a NGO named Sangharsh Foundation wrote to the Mumbai Police seeking permission to protest against the screening of the film, reports Indian Express.

MAMI decided to scrap the screening and wrote in its official statement said, ‘Given the current situation, the Jio MAMI 18th Mumbai Film Festival with Star has decided not to programme Jago Hua Savera as part of the Restored Classics Section.’

The said Pakistani film was Pakistan’s official entry to the 1960 Oscars and was made in East Pakistan, which is now a part of Bangladesh. The movie tells the tale of village fishermen and their dreams of owning individual boats.

Interestingly, at the press conference of MAMI earlier this month when Kiran Rao was asked if any Pakistani film would be screened at the festival and in the event of it being so, if there would be any concerns keeping in mind the current political atmosphere, the producer answered in negative. ‘The short answer to it is no,’ Kiran had said.