Director of Nude Ravi Jadhav has refuted claims of the film being 'incomplete' after it was dropped as the opening film of the Indian Panorama section at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) to be held from 20-28 November.
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The reason for dropping the film given by Vivek Agnihotri, convenor of IFFI, was that the film was incomplete. Speaking about the issue, chief minister of Goa, Manohar Parrikar also told the media, “Even if it is selected by the jury, if it is not completed and unless it gets a certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification, unless the entire procedure is complete and it is ready, it cannot be screened.”
Refuting these claims, Jadhav told DNA, “Let me tell you that Vivek Agnihotri and others are giving funny reasons. Firstly, you don’t need a censor certificate at all for IFFI. When you enter your film, it is clearly written that the film has to be complete before 31 July or it has to be censored. There is an either/or. However, since the last two years, censor is not applicable for the entry. Normally, once they select a film, they communicate to the producer one month in advance that they can get it censored, as the film is selected. There was no such communication.”
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He also stated that his film is not incomplete. Taking a dig at Agnihotri, he added, “Four of my earlier films were selected for IFFI. So, I know exactly how to send a film. I don’t know if any of Vivek Agnihotri’s films have been selected for IFFI or not. And if it has been he should show it to me first! Since I have done it earlier, according to me, I had sent my film at least 99 per cent complete.”
Jadhav clarified that the part that is left to be completed will be done after the media partnership deals. “The one per cent that is remaining is basically about the end-scroll that is normally done after the media partners come on board. That has nothing to do with the film,” he said.
In fact, the filmmaker believes that the film can be shown even now. “The jury saying the film was incomplete doesn’t make sense. I have already won five National Awards, so I exactly know how it has to be sent. Also, only if it’s a complete film, will the jury be able to experience it the way it should. The fact that they were considering it as the opening film means it was complete. Even now they can release it in IFFI,” added Jadhav.
Starring Kalyanee Mulay and Naseeruddin Shah, Nude traces the journey of a girl compelled to work as a nude model.