Protests against 'Padmavati' unfortunate: Kamal Swaroop

Noted director Kamal Swaroop, whose documentary "Pushakr Puran" opened the non-feature section of Indian Panorama at IFFI, said those protesting against Sanjay Leela Bhansali's film "Padmavati" have no knowledge of history and are targetting the film just to stay in news.

The government policies and laws protect artistes, he said, but they fall prey to fringe elements because they are getting "a kind of protection".

"The controversy around 'Padmavati' is sad. Those who are protesting against it have very little knowledge of history. They are protesting, issuing threats to the filmmaker just to be in news and to show their importance," he told PTI on the sidelines of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), which ended today.
 

When asked about films "S Durga" and "Nude", which were dropped out of festival, Swaroop said, "I don't know about the content of both the films. The High Court (Kerala HC) gave its verdict in the favour of the film. If a government blocks a film, courts judgement changes the course."

The director said political parties have their own prejudice.

"My film 'Om-Dar-B-Dar' was stuck with the censor board for two years and during that time there was a Congress government at that time."

"Om-Dar-B-Dar" was made in 1988, but it finally released in theatres after 26 years in 2014.

Talking about "Pushkar Puran" and his fascination with mythology, the National Award-winning director said, "I grew up in Ajmer, near Pushkar. I have been going to Pushkar for the last 40 years so I know the stories. I have made a number of small movies on Pushkar.

"Even 'Om-Dar-B-Dar' was set in Pushkar and Ajmer. Italian writer Roberto Calasso has written a book 'Ka: Stories of the Mind and Gods of India', I took two parts from it, one on Brahma and another on Ashwamedha Yagna and made this documentary."

Asked about his next project, the director said he was planning a film, titled "Omniyam", which would be based on "The Third Policeman" by Irish novelist Flann O'Brien.

"'Omniyam' was a part of Film Bazaar's co-production market this year.

"I am also working on a project based on the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits which happened in January 1990. It's the story of that cold, dark night of January 19, 1990 when the community was forced to leave their home land of Kashmir," he said.