Initially banned in India and subsequently certified for theatrical distribution, Papilio Buddha is gearing up for its first screening outside the country, a world premiere at British Film Institute Festival – 27 London LGFF 2013.
The only Indian film to be selected this year with 60 other international films in three categories – hearts, bodies and minds – Papilio Buddha has been included in ‘minds’, a celebration of cerebral pleasures with reflections and debate on art, politics and community and will be screened on March 19 and 20.
Set in a pristine Kerala village in Western Ghats, the Malayalam feature film directed by Jayan K Cherian deals with discrimination against landless Dalits and the politics of suppression of their struggle against the upper castes and other powerful elements locally.
The censor board took exception to its realistic depiction and Central Board of Film Certification denied it certification alleging denigration of national symbols, expletives, violence, nudity, etc. the film was also kept out of IFFK and IFFI even though censor certificates are not required for screening in these festivals.
Going forward, Papilio Buddha will be an inaugural film in three festivals this year- International Film Festival Thrissur, Chittur Panchajanayam IFF and Jamia Milia Malyalam Film Festival.“We are also gearing up for the release of the film in theaters, dvd and internet in coming weeks,” say the film makers.
