Pro-Tamil Lankan film taken off screens

CHENNAI: The screening of Sri Lankan film 'With You, Without You' was cancelled in the city on Saturday after officials at two multiplexes received threatening phone calls from Tamil groups. The film is an Indo-Sri Lanka collaboration directed by acclaimed Sri Lankan filmmaker Prasanna Vithanage.
Vithanage and Rahul Roy, a documentary filmmaker from Delhi and co-producer of the movie, have urged chief minister J Jayalalithaa to intervene and ensure the film is screened of the film in the state.
"The film is a sensitive portrayal of post-war Sri Lanka and the consequences of denial of justice to the Tamil people. But we are facing opposition here, not support. Some people have decided — without watching the film — that it is against the interests of the Tamil people. The film, in fact, is a scathing account of the suffering the war unleashed," Roy told TOI.
The film, set in Sri Lanka in the months after the civil war, features Indian actors Anjali Patil and Shyam Fernando as a married couple. Patil plays a Tamil girl who marries an older man, not knowing he was a Sri Lankan army soldier.
The film shows the changes in their lives after a visit from an old friend.
Vithanage said he had received positive feedback from the audience. "I have been raising my voice for minorities in Sri Lanka. I believe in a multi-cultural society. This is an important movie and the protesters should watch the movie and then criticize," he said.
Roy said it was unfortunate that the screening was stopped. "The film was released at PVR Ampa Skywalk and Escape cinema on June 20 and we got an extremely positive reaction from the audience and rave reviews from critics," he said.
A tweet from Shiladitya Bora of PVR cinemas said, "We will have to discontinue #WithYouWithoutYou with immediate effect in Chennai due to protests/threats from local Tamil associations. Sorry (sic)."
Roy said, "The local police, we are told, have refused to take any action and conveyed their inability to provide protection to the theatres. As a result, the exhibitors had to withdraw the film. We request the chief minister to ensure that action is taken against those who made threatening calls to the theatres. We request her to instruct the state police to provide adequate protection to the theatres."
'With You Without You' has been showed at more than 30 film festivals across the world and received critical acclaim. National award winning editor from Tamil and Hindi film industries Sreekar Prasad has also worked for 'With You, Without You'.
Vithange is no stranger to controversy. His 'Death On A Full Moon Day' was banned by the Sri Lankan government in 2000 and he faced a year-long legal battle to get it released.
A few leaders of pro-Eelam groups denied that there were threat to the film or theatres. Police said there was no written complaint. "Neither the producer nor the exhibitors have lodged a complaint with us," a senior police officer said.
Roy said a group of film personalities, writers and activists plan to hold private screening of the film across the state.