Title: Letter stirs
fresh row over Water
Author: Usha Jaiswal
Publication: The Observer
Of Business And Politics
Date: February 7, 2000
The Sanskar Bharti's
letter to Uttar Pradesh chief minister Ram Prakash Gupta, demanding immediate
ban on the shooting of Deepa Mehta's film Water in Varanasi and a probe
into the alleged bungling on her part, has further deepened the row.
D P Sinha, national chief
of the Sanskar Bharti (Dramatic Cell) had written a letter to the Uttar
Pradesh chief minister on Sunday demanding suspension of shooting till
the probe was over. It may be noted that Mr Sinha was sent to Lucknow by
the Sangh Parivar to find out the facts and assess the situation regarding
the shooting of the film and its opposition.
He handed over a three-page
letter to the chief minister supported by other documents Union Ministry
of Information and Broadcasting approval order for shooting, Deepa Mehta's
letter to the deputy secretary, I&B Ministry, Uttar Pradesh PWD minister
Kalraj Mishra, chief secretary and industrial development secretary of
the state, for necessary action and help.
The film producing company
of Canada Flagship International, approached the I&B Ministry, claiming
that it is the producer of the film Water, on December 6 '99, had requested
for necessary permission. At the same time Deepa Motwani of an Indian company
named Vast Galaxies Investment Ltd, Delhi, wrote to the UP chief secretary
informing about the shooting and also demanded several facilities from
the state government like air tickets, concessional hotel accommodation,
etc.
In another letter to
industrial development secretary of the state, it was said that the film
was produced by Vast Galaxies Investment ltd, and sought permission for
import and re-export film equipment and stocks. This fax was endorsed to
Deepa Mehta, David Hamilton and District Magistrate of Varanasi.
In another letter dated
December 31, '99, Deepa Motwani' informed senior Uttar Pradesh minister
Kalraj Mishra that the film Water was produced by Vast Galaxies Investment
Ltd.
According to Sanskar
Bharti and the supporting documents, the I&B Ministry was approached
by Deepa Mehta through Flagship International, Canada, saying that they
are the producers of the film, while they approached the state government
through Vast Galaxies Investment.
None of the correspondence
of the production unit with the state government was made through the Canadian
firm nor any of the officials or the minister was told the fact that Deepa
Mehta is a foreign national.
Sanskar Bharti urged
the state government to constitute a probe to enquire into the facts before
allowing shooting of the film because Vast Galaxies Investment, Delhi and
Flagship International, Canada, have no linkage.
They also requested the
state government to find out which of these two firms are the real producer
of Water and how can one individual - Deepa De Motwani - could represent
both the companies as production manager and unit production manager for
Flagship International, Canada and Vast Galaxies Investment, Delhi respectively.
Meanwhile, shooting of
the film began on Saturday amid strong protest.
