Much awaited certification for ‘The Kerala Story’ in UK

Wednesday 17th May 2023 07:53 EDT
 

The Kerala Story gets its much-awaited certification by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) following an inexplicable delay.  The delay had caused public outrage, with the diaspora persistently questioning why a movie relaying tragic experiences of many innocent girls was not being certified in the UK.
The release of the Indian film in the UK was thrown into disarray after it failed to receive classification from the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) in time for its scheduled debut on May 12. The movie was set to be screened in Hindi and Tamil across 31 cinemas in the UK and Ireland, but all screenings were cancelled on Friday and tickets were refunded after cinema websites stopped allowing sales.

In a letter to the British Board of Film Classification, the Hindu Community Organisation Group wrote expressing deep concern regarding the denial of certification and subsequent cancellation of the release of the movie 'Kerala Files'. The letter urged the BBFC to request a detailed investigation into the reasons behind the denial of certification for 'Kerala Files' and to provide a comprehensive explanation regarding the specific concerns or objections raised by the BBFC in relation to the movie 'Kerala Files'. 

The letter further suggested that it was crucial to assess whether the denial of certification for 'Kerala Files' was a result of any external pressures or influences that might compromise the independence and integrity of the BBFC. The public must have confidence in the fact that decisions regarding film certification are made solely on the basis of the film's content and adherence to the established classification guidelines, rather than any political, religious, or other external factors.

The letter also urged an open and transparent discussion about film certification decisions that will help foster a healthier and more inclusive cultural environment in society.


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