Kochi: Kerala High Court on Tuesday ordered that the Malayalam film S Durga be screened at the ongoing international film festival in Goa, days after the Union information and broadcasting ministry dropped the movie from the list.

Director Sanal Kumar Sasisdharan said the court's ruling was a victory of "cinema and democracy".

The decision was also welcomed by several jury members of the Indian Panorama section.

Allowing Sanal's petition, Justice B. Vinod Chandran directed the ministry to screen the film, originally named Sexy Durga and rechristened S Durga on the advice of the censor board, at the festival.

Sexy Durga narrates the experience of a hitchhiking couple.

Sanal had moved court after the film was dropped from the Indian Panorama section along with the Marathi film Nude.

"I am very happy. It is a victory of cinema and democracy. People stood by us and believed in us and it has paid off. The chairman resigned, other jury members also resigned," he said. "This is a victory for all of us. It is proof that democracy can't be killed and the law is for the people."

Jury member Apurva Asrani dubbed the verdict a "huge victory" for the director and one that had restored his faith in democracy.

Another jury member, Ruchi Narain, expressed her happiness and said the judiciary "metes out" justice.

Director Rahul Rawail, who replaced filmmaker Sujoy Ghosh as chairman of the Indian Panorama jury, said: "This matter is sub judice and until the ministry orders, I can't say much on this.. I have not received any order about the screening from the ministry yet."