Prakash Raj, who is serving as an ambassador for the Bengaluru International Film Festival, said that political interference had overshadowed this year’s festival after the central authorities prevented the screening of Palestinian films. He called on the Karnataka government to openly challenge and object to the move.
Raising concerns over the restriction, Raj appealed to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to adopt a clear and firm position. He pointed to an earlier example in Kerala, where the state leadership reportedly did not accept a similar ban and allowed the film’s screening to proceed.
Raj said the festival, which had been progressing positively, was now facing unnecessary obstacles due to political decisions from the Centre. Speaking in his role as the festival’s ambassador, he stressed that the state leadership should respond strongly to protect the spirit of the event.
Highlighting the broader purpose of film festivals, he noted that such platforms exist to present stories and lived experiences from different societies. He argued that it was unreasonable to celebrate Indian stories receiving global appreciation while simultaneously blocking films that bring voices and narratives from other regions of the world.
He added that if people take pride when stories from India—showing both suffering and joy—are translated and honoured internationally, then it is equally important to remain open to sharing stories from elsewhere with Indian audiences.
