CHENNAI: David Bradbury, a two-time Oscar-nominated Australian filmmaker known for his documentary on anti-nuclear protests in Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu, was detained by immigration officials at Chennai airport on September 11. He was reportedly forced to leave India shortly after arrival.
Bradbury traveled to India with his daughter Nakeita (21) and son Omar (14) for a family trip. Upon their arrival, while Nakeita and Omar were cleared through immigration, their father was held without explanation and subsequently deported to Thailand. Nakeita recounted that after being detained for 24 hours, Bradbury was required to board a flight to Thailand. “By 3 AM, we were asked to leave the airport but received no information about my dad. He contacted us only after reaching Thailand,” she said, speaking from Milan.
The trip was intended as a “journey of discovery and remembrance” for their late partner and mother, Treena Lenthall. After Bradbury’s deportation, Nakeita and Omar decided to continue their travels across India, visiting Puducherry, Salem, Kerala, Varanasi, and New Delhi, where they held a traditional Hindu farewell for Lenthall. They later left India to reunite with their father in Milan.
Nakeita speculated that her father’s detention might be connected to his past work on the 2012 Kudankulam nuclear plant protests, though officials have not confirmed any specific reason for the action. The Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in Chennai acknowledged the incident and stated they would “look into the matter,” but provided no further details.
Despite the challenges they faced, including being overcharged at various points during their journey, the siblings successfully completed their two-week trip, relying on Google Maps and local assistance to navigate their way. “We were tricked many times. It was not fair. But we pulled through,” Nakeita remarked.
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