Legendary Film's IFFI Screening Cancelled at the Eleventh Hour
A digitally restored version of Peter Brook's acclaimed film 'The Mahabharata' has been pulled from the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, just days before its scheduled screening. The cancellation stems from the film not receiving a CBFC exemption, a necessary formality for screening in India.
A Dinner Invitation Rescinded
Simon Brook, the son of the late director and the person overseeing the film's restoration, expressed his profound disappointment. "It's as if someone invited me for dinner and made other plans," he told The Indian Express from Paris. He was informed over the weekend that since the CBFC exemption was still pending and the festival was about to begin, the screening could not proceed.
The irony is stark, as the NDA government had cited this very film when awarding Peter Brook the Padma Shri in 2021. The cancellation marks a significant setback for cinephiles, as the film has not been screened in India for nearly two decades.
The Long Road to IFFI and an Unexpected Hurdle
The journey to IFFI began in July 2024, after the 8K restored version premiered at the Indian Film Festival in London to great acclaim. In August, Simon Brook received an official invitation from IFFI organisers to screen the film as the opening feature for the Restored Classics section.
The timing was particularly poignant, coinciding with the birth centenary of Peter Brook, who passed away in 2022, making the screening a fitting tribute. Simon Brook was also invited to conduct a masterclass on the intricate restoration process, which he described as a labour of love involving retrieving reels from various locations.
The first sign of trouble emerged about a month ago when Brook was notified that the CBFC exemption had not been granted. Despite his efforts to expedite the process, including reaching out to the Indian High Commission in London, the issue remained unresolved. Sources revealed that the film had been screened twice for an internal review committee before its selection, making the last-minute hurdle even more perplexing.
Hope for a Future Screening
Despite the current disappointment, Simon Brook remains hopeful about bringing his father's masterpiece back to Indian shores. "Maybe next year, maybe to some other film festival," he said, reflecting a desire to share this universal interpretation of the great Indian epic with a new generation.
Released in 1989, Peter Brook's 'The Mahabharata' is an international production featuring actors from 16 nationalities, including Indian artist Mallika Sarabhai as Draupadi. The film, and the nine-hour play it was adapted from, has been globally praised for its powerful depiction of the epic's timeless themes.
