Australian filmmaker 'detained' at Chennai airport, 'deported'

CHENNAI: Australian filmmaker and two-time Oscar nominee David Bradbury , known for his documentary on anti-nuclear protests in southern Tamil Nadu's Kudankulam, was stopped by immigration officials at Chennai airport on Sept 11 and allegedly forced to leave the country. Bradbury had arrived with his daughter Nakeita, 21, and son Omar, 14, for a family trip across India. He was allegedly detained without explanation and deported to Thailand.

"He was taken to a room, detained for 24 hours and then forced to fly to Thailand. By 3am, we were asked to leave the airport but were given no details about my dad. He called us only after he reached Thailand," Nakeita said Thursday, speaking over the phone from Milan.

Bradbury had planned a trip across India as a "journey of discovery and remembrance" for his deceased partner Treena Lenthall. While Nakeita and Omar cleared immigration, their father was held by officials. The siblings decided to continue their trip through Puducherry, Salem, Kerala, Varanasi, and New Delhi, performing a traditional Hindu farewell for Lenthall. On Wednesday, they left India to reunite with their father in Milan.

Nakeita suspects her father's detention may be linked to his documentary on the 2012 Kudankulam nuclear plant protests, though officials have not confirmed this. When contacted, officials from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in Chennai said they would "look into the matter", but declined further comment.

The siblings completed their trip lasting two weeks, relying on Google Maps and local help. "We were tricked many times. We were charged randomly at petrol bunks, toll gates, and hotels. It was not fair. But we pulled through," said Nakeita.