High Court lifts stay on Indian Panorama section
The Kerala High Court has lifted its stay order on the publication of results of the selection of the Indian Panorama for the 40th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), which is scheduled to begin on November 24 in Goa. A division bench comprising Chief Justice S.R. Bannurmath and justice A.K. Basheer issued the direction on Tuesday.
Earlier last month, a single judge stayed the selection process of films for the Indian Panorama section based on a writ petition filed by Malayalam director-producer Ranjith, who alleged that one of the jury members, Gautaman Bhaskaran, had published the details of the films to be selected in the Indian Panorama on his website even before the official declaration was made.
Ranjith sought a direction to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to conduct an inquiry into the selection process immediately with particular reference to leaking of the results by a jury member and to conduct the selection process afresh.
Meanwhile, with the Kerala High Court lifting this stay on the publication of results of movies selected for the Indian Panorama, the organisers of IFFI announced the list of films to be shown under the Indian Panorama section.
Konkani movie Paltadacho Munis, directed by Laxmikant Shetgaonkar, will be the opening film of the section, which will also feature recent Bollywood releases Dev D., Firaaq, Kaminey, Oye Lucky Lucky Oye, The White Elephant and India's official Oscar entry Harishchandrachi Factory.
