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Water mired in more controversy

Sharat Pradhan in Lucknow

Deepa Mehta has had another run-in with controversy. Her plans to shoot Water, the last film in her trilogy, in Varanasi has run in rough weather in the form of an uncooperative Uttar Pradesh government. The second film of the trilogy, Earth, is India's official entry at the Oscars.

Mehta, who is shooting Water with a foreign crew, has already got the requisite permissions to shoot in Varanasi -- a permission that was unofficially withdrawn at the last minute. Now, though, the UP government has again done a volte face. Its chief secretary, Yogendra Narain, told rediff.com, that they will now extend her full support.

The film-maker -- whose Fire, the first movie of her trilogy caused major controversy -- was in for trouble from the very outset, as far as Water was concerned. UP's tourism minister, Ashok Yadav, took sudden affront to her brand of film-making and directed the Varanasi district authorities to withdraw all administrative support as far as the shooting of her film was concerned.

Apparently, Mehta again hits some rather uncomfortable notes with Water The film was stated to be focussed on the pathetic lives of widows who are forced to live as outcasts in Varanasi. In her charasteristically unconventional and bold approach, Mehta is stated to show how one of these widows gets sexually involved with her uncle.

"That could have been objectionable," observed a film critic in Lucknow, but sources claimed, "that was not the reason why a brazen minister decided to withdraw all support to the film-maker."

It is learnt Yadav was really obliging in the beginning and personally issued directions to the Varanasi district magistrate to provide "all possible help to Deepa Mehta." But he chose move in reverse gear within next 24 hours. Meanwhile, the Varanasi district authorities declined to comment on the subject.

While Yadav was not available for comment, the chief secretary expressed shock and dismay at the attitude of the Varanasi district authorities, "When we are trying to promote films in Uttar Pradesh and the government has taken a concious decision to give incentives to producers shooting in the state, how can we adopt a policy of non-cooperation in this manner?"

He went on to add, "I will speak to the concerned minister and explain to him how this is against our policy; and then see to it that the administration's help and cooperation is extended for Deepa Mehta's film."