‘Third Eye Blinks!’
(Afternoon Daily | August 12, 2004)
"The Third Eye, according to Indian mythology, symbolises
a hidden power and potential unleashed on the world for
the good of human society. In the context, Third Eye, the
title of the festival, aptly describes the power of Asian
Cinema," says the press brochure of the Third Eye Asian
Film Festival, which is slated to be held in Mumbai from
August 21 to 28. But the latest developments suggest that
the Third Eye has blinked or worse still clamped shut. How?
Originally a package of Tibetan films was to be screened
at the Festival. 'Kundun', 'Seven Years in Tibet',
'Little Buddha', 'Himalaya' and 'The Cup' were part of
the festival lineup. However, sources state that though
the Tibetan film package will be presented at the weeklong
festival, there will be two crucial deletions.
Martin Scorsese's 'Kundun' and Jean Jacuques Annaud's
'Seven years in Tibet' are the two films that have been
dropped by the festival committee. The screening of the
other films will carry on as scheduled. It is learnt that
the two films will not be screened as a result of direct
interference on the part of the Chinese Embassy in New
Delhi. According to Festival Director Sudhir Nandgaokar,
"This will bring bad publicity to the festival." Sources
inform that the Chinese Embassy has specifically asked to
chuck the two films because out of the entire selection,
'Kundun' and 'Seven Years in Tibet' are the only films
that could cause any discomfort or dent the Chinese
propaganda machine. Ironically, 'Kundun' has had various
public screenings across the city as also the country and
'Seven Years in Tibet' has been features on the satellite
channel HBO.
When asked whether the Festival was under an obligation to
stop the screenings, Mr. Nandgaonkar candidly stated that
the films will not be shown as a result of pressure from
the Chinese Embassy. It is unsure if the Chinese Embassy
did in fact get in touch with the Indian counterpart on
this matter, or has been meddling behind the government's
back and in effect interfering with the internal affairs
of another country.
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