November 23, 2008	Sunday	Ziqa'ad 24, 1429

PANAJI, Nov 22: The International Film Festival of India was officially opened in the resort state of Goa on Saturday but immediately ran into controversy with hardline Hindu nationalists.

The Sanatan Sanstha and Hindu Janajagruti Samiti movements protested against the scheduled screening of M.F. Husain’s 1960s documentary “Through the Eyes of a Painter”, which was shown at the Berlin Film Festival and won a Golden Bear award.

Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has organised the screening for Nov 25.

Senior member Sushant Dalvi said: “There are 1,250 police complaints filed against Husain in India. It is not right for the government organisations to make his film a part of such a prestigious festival.” Dalvi added that a formal complaint was being submitted to the festival director and Goa’s chief minister.—AFP