Screening of filmmaker Anik Dutta's political satire stopped across West Bengal
Kolkata, Feb 16 (IBNS): Drawing sharp criticism from a section of film fraternity, screening of director Anik Dutta's latest Bengali film Bhobishyoter Bhoot (Ghosts of the Future), reportedly a political satire from a filmmaker who was critical of the ruling government in West Bengal, was stopped across the state on Saturday.
The incident occurred months after Dutta had raised his eyebrows over an excessive use of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's pictures at government-sponsored film and cultural centre, Nandan, during the 24th Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) in 2018.
The film, which released on Friday this week, was stopped without any prior notice.
In an interaction with ETV Bharat, clueless Dutta said: "They have stopped screening after receiving instructions from higher authorities."
Reportedly, Bhobishyoter Bhoot has certain sequences of political satires.
Image: Filmmaker Anik Dutta (Source: Facebook)
Actor Kaushik Sen, who featured in the film and is also known for his political criticisms, said: "We were not given any reason behind the step. We are clueless and shocked at how can something like this happen in West Bengal which is claimed to be a cultural capital."
Sen's actress wife Reshmi Sen, who is also in the film, said: "I came to watch the film this evening. The incident is a disrespect to the art. How can a film which is passed by the censor board be stopped from screening."
Anik Dutta had said the use of Mamata Banerjee's pictures all over at Nandan at an international film festival was not a visual pleasure.
In an article in ABP, the director, who earlier made the superhit Bhooter Bhabishyat (Future of the Ghosts) in 2012, had expressed his fear that he could face harassment for criticising the state government.
Sharp criticism followed the suspension of screening since the West Bengal Chief Minister herself is a vocal critic of the censorship of creative people under the regime of BJP-ruled central government and had accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of imposing an "Emergency" like situation on people and free speech.
Bhobishyoter Bhoot, which is not a sequel to Bhooter Bhabishyat, has an ensemble cast.
Interestingly, the film also stars Moon Moon Sen, who is an MP of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).
Reacting to the stoppage of screening, filmmaker Satrajit Sen tweeted, "I couldn't understand why the film was pulled down. This is not right. Bengali films barely make business and these sort of things leave me speechless."
Chobi ta dekhini ekhono kintu sheta hall theke ek diner mathay tule noewar karon ta porishkar ekebarei holo na. Uchit to holoi na. #bhobishyoterbhoot.
— satrajit sen (@satrajits) February 16, 2019
Emnitei odhikangsho Bangla chobi chole na tar opor erokom ghatona ghotle to ar kichui bolar thake na.
Actress Rachel White tweeted, "If you don’t like a film or a particular subject doesn’t interest you , you can choose to not watch it. Taking down a film after it has been passed by the censor board is absolutely unacceptable and unfair."
If you don’t like a film or a particular subject doesn’t interest you , you can choose to not watch it. Taking down a film after it has been passed by the censor board is absolutely unacceptable and unfair.
— Rachel White (@whitespeaking) February 16, 2019
1/3 contd #BhobishyoterBhoot #WestBengal
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