The screening of Majid Majidi’s film Muhammed - The Messenger of God , scheduled for Monday night had to be cancelled at the last minute, as the censor exemption from the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry did not reach the State Chalachitra Academy.
“They have not said ‘No’. They just have not responded. We have sent a request to them today to see if we can screen it before the end of the festival,” said festival director Bina Paul.
In 2016, the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry had denied censor exemption for the screening of the film at that year's edition of the IFFK.
Though no specific reason was cited for the rejection, the move was reportedly made to avoid possible controversies.
The film, set in the sixth century, revolves around the childhood of Prophet Muhammad.
A.R. Rahman has done music for the film. It is one of the most expensive film made in Iranian film industry, otherwise known for realistic, minimalistic filmmaking.
The film stirred up controversies in quite a few countries.
In India, an organisation called the Raza Academy issued a fatwa against Majidi and Rahman and also demanded a ban on the film.
