Shashi Tharoor Criticizes Centre's Ban on Films at Kerala Festival: Bureaucratic Censorship Undermines India's Cultural Image

Dec 17, 2025 04:30 pm CST

Congressman Shashi Tharoor condemns the Indian government's decision to block 19 films from screening at the International Film Festival of Kerala, highlighting bureaucratic overreach in cultural matters. Tharoor reveals officials banned a film titled "Beef" simply due to its name, despite it being about a rap artist, demonstrating what he calls an "extraordinary degree of cinematic illiteracy" that damages India's international reputation.