Producers Guild condemn attempts to stop 'Fanaa' release in Gujarat

New Delhi, May 25 (UNI) The Film and Television producers Guild today deplored attempts to stop the release of the 'Da Vinci Code' in India and the Aamir Khan Kajol-starrer 'Fanaa' in Gujarat.

In a statement issued here, secretary general of the guild Supran Sen said,''The Film and TV Producers Guild and many of its esteemed members regret recent attempts to intervene in screening of films and TV shows by self-serving activists and politicians. Given our rich and diverse socio-cultural tradition, it is disturbing to see extra-constitutional forces disrupting screening of films.'' Describing attempts to stop screening of 'The Da Vinci Code' and 'Fanaa' as a direct attack on the filmmakers' fundamental right of freedom of expression, the Guild said,''We have been witness to the kind of pressure brought on the government to stop the screening of 'Da Vinci Code' even though the film had been duly certified.

Similarly, there is an attempt to stop the release of 'Fanaa' in Gujarat owing to some purported statements made by Khan.

The Gujarat Multiplex Owners Assocation (GMOA) on Tuesday decided not to screen 'Fanaa', which releases all over India tomorrow, in all multiplexes of the state to protest against Khan's statements over the Narmada Bachao Andolan.

GMOA spokesman Chirag Shah said the association took the decision to protest against the star's support to Ms Patkar on the Narmada issue.

Mr Shah said the movie 'Fanaa' would not be screened in all the 22 multiplexes of the state.

Infact, Khan has been facing the Gujarati public opposition following his support to the NBA last month.

Both the Youth Congress and the BJP Yuva Morcha have given a call to the people to boycott the film.

Expressing the hope that better sense would prevail on the opponents of the relase of these films, the Guild said,''We hope that artistic independence of our talented writers, artists and filmmakers will not be curbed nor will free and fair broadcast be stopped through undemocratic means..'' UNI AR AK VV1828