Hindustan Times reports on the Indian government restricting documentaries from screening without a censorship certificate from the government’s Film Division (FD):

The filmmakers-versus-FD battle is now out in the open. Over 100 leading members of the Indian documentary filmmaking fraternity, several of them Golden Conch winners, have submitted a letter to the Union information and broadcasting minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad, protesting against the FD decision. Is the government willing to pay heed to their appeal?

If it doesn’t, it would be tantamount to a complete travesty of justice especially in the light of the fact that the FD has made a distinction between Indian and foreign films. Its mandatory censorship clause is applicable only to films made in the country; films from outside can get in without any intervention. This discriminatory step militates against all principles of fair play. It puts Indian filmmakers at a clear disadvantage and they have threatened a complete boycott of MIFF 2004.

When is documentary censorship good for the public?