Jadavpur University alumni association today cancelled a pre-release screening of Atul Agnihotri's upcoming film 'Buddha in a Traffic Jam', but the producers have decided to show it open-air in the campus.
"I regret to inform you that due to model code of conduct prevailing due to state election we are unable to allow you to screen the movie 'Buddha in a traffic jam'. Please bear with us," alumni association's Sipra Patra said in a letter to the organisers.
The Triguna Sen auditorium inside the campus was booked for the screening.
Agnihotri said there was no code of conduct for screening of a film which will be released nationwide on May 13.
"The students want to see the film and they want it to be screened. So they have said they will arrange for its screening in the open air. I'll fight for it because this is a matter of my freedom of speech and expression," the filmmaker told PTI.
He wondered why people were scared of the screening of the film which he describes as "the boldest political film ever made in India".
The film, which stars Anupam Kher and Arunoday Singh in important roles, has so far been screened in a number of educational institutes throughout the country.
"I faced some issues and non-cooperation from some people during the screenings," he said.
Jadavpur University Vice Chancellor Suranjan Das said the state varsity had no role to play in the cancellation of the screening.
"The hall doesn't belong to us. It is not controlled at all by us. We have no role to play in the screening or cancellation," he said.
