Documentary on beef faces ban at festival

Organisers of a documentary festival on Friday said that they are not going to screen a film on beef after they failed to get clearance from the ministry of information and broadcasting.

The short film ‘Caste on the Menu Card’, was the only film out of 35 others, which failed to get an exemption permission for a screening at 12th Jeevika Asia Livelihood Documentary Festival, which is organised by Centre for Civil Society.

“We had submitted all the films to the ministry on August 4 and we got to know that this film will not be screened only yesterday. There was no delay on our part. We made a follow-up request but I don’t think they will allow it. We will have to follow the process,” Manoj Mathew, the festival director, said.

The 21-minute film, made by students of the School of Media and Cultural Studies at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, focuses on beef-eating practices in Mumbai.

According to a synopsis on the festival’s website, the movie “delves into the idea of food as a site of exclusion by focusing on beef-eating practices in Mumbai.

“By tracing the mythological and historical roots of the meat-eating culture in our country, the film discusses the hierarchy maintained by Brahmanical preferences and its intended subversions.”

The three-day Asia-wide annual festival attempts to highlight the livelihood challenges faced by the rural and urban poor.

It also encourages documentary makers to find interest in livelihood issues and providing them a platform to share their experiences and creativity.

When asked about the matter, a senior I&B official said that adequate information had not been provided about the film.

“There is a process which has to be followed and the information provided about the film was inadequate,” an official said.