Producers Guild dismayed at recent affairs

Mumbai, May 26 (UNI) The Film&TV Producers Guild of India has regretted recent attempts to intervene in screening of films and TV shows by self-serving actvists and politicians.

''Given our rich and diverse socio-cultural tradition it is disturbing to see extra-constitutional forces disrupting exhibition of films,'' a release issued here today said.

''We have been witness to the kind of pressure brought on the Government to stop the screening of 'Da Vinci Code' in spite of the fact the film had been duly certified. Similarly there is an attempt to stop the release of 'Fanaa' in Gujarat owing to some purported statements of Aamir Khan,'' the release said.

As veteran Actor-Producer-Director and Guild member Dev Anand said, ''Culture and politics should not be mixed.'' In a democracy, freedom of expression is a fundamental right and the Guild hopes that artistic independence of our talented writers, artistes and film makers will not be curbed nor will free and fair broadcast be stopped through undemocratic means, he added.

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