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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3286
TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.03.2026
Blocking of screening films at International film festival in Kerala
3286. Smt. Sagarika Ghose
Will the Minister of Information and Broadcasting be pleased to state:
(a) the specific reasons cited by the Ministry for flagging and blocking the screening of
four films at the International Film Festival of Kerala;
(b) the reasons for delays in issuing censor exemption certificates; and
(c) whether the blocking was a result of any international pressure, if so, the details
thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING AND
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS
(DR. L. MURUGAN)
(a) to (c)
The request for exemption of films for screening at International Film Festival of Kerala was
received in the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting on 03.12.2025. On examination of the
request as per extant policy, the Ministry of I&B granted exemptions for 154 films on
12.12.2025, for 14 films on 15.12.2025, for 9 films on 16.12.2025 and for 3 films on
17.12.2025 which were within the stipulated timeline of 15 days for disposal of exemption
requests. Accordingly, there was no delay in issuing exemption certificates.
As per extant instructions, an application for exemption from certification process for any film
festival may preferably be sent to the Ministry of I&B one month in advance, but at least 15
days prior to the event.
The application for grant of exemption for screening of films at International Film Festival of
Kerala was examined and accorded exemption as per Ministry of I&B’s guidelines.
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