Story perspectives

Kerala Film Festival Faces Censorship Crisis Amid Protests

12/17/2025

Summary

Story summary

The Kerala government told organizers of the 30th International Film Festival of Kerala to continue screenings after the Union Ministry denied censor exemptions for 19 films.
Protests and criticism followed, including Congress MP Shashi Tharoor calling it an unprecedented crisis.
The 19 denied titles include Palestinian films and classics such as Battleship Potemkin.
Tharoor noted inconsistencies in censorship, saying some films had previously won Indian festival awards.

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Story summary

The Kerala government told organizers of the 30th International Film Festival of Kerala to continue screenings after the Union Ministry denied censor exemptions for 19 films.
Protests and criticism followed, including Congress MP Shashi Tharoor calling it an unprecedented crisis.
The 19 denied titles include Palestinian films and classics such as Battleship Potemkin.
Tharoor noted inconsistencies in censorship, saying some films had previously won Indian festival awards.