Bengali directors refuse to end indefinite strike in tussle with federation, seek 'technically aware' mediator

The filmmakers announced the decision at a late evening press conference in the Technicians' Studio in Kolkata's Tollygunge, eponymous with the Bengali film industry known as Tollywood.

"We directors wished for the stalemate to end. We hoped the technicians would give a positive message but they spoke otherwise.

"So until the situation is resolved, we will continue with our indefinite strike," said filmmaker-Trinamool Congress MLA Raj Chakraborty with support from his fraternity.

Image by Avishek Mitra/IBNS

The directors have also demanded a third party as a mediator to resolve the issue.

Actor Anirban Bhattacharya said: "Along with the strike, we are in favour of a dialogue in presence of a third party, who should have proper understanding of films, its technical aspects and legalities."

The press conference was attended by several filmmakers including the most prominent ones like Kaushik Ganguly, Arindam Sil, Indranil Roychowdhury, Anjan Dutt, Shiboprosad Mukherjee and the veteran Haranath Chakraborty.

After several studios, mostly in Tollygunge, wore a deserted look on the first day of the directors' strike, filmmakers sat together in the afternoon at Prosenjit's South Kolkata residence from where they sent out a message for a dialogue to resolve the issue.

"It is just a tussle over respect. This is very normal in a family. We have to flush out our egos and tussle so that we can work with full respect," said Prosenjit Chatterjee, who was flanked by top filmmakers at his Ballygunge residence.

Image by Avishek Mitra/IBNS

Later in the evening, the Federation of Cine Technicians and Workers of Eastern India (FCTWEI), helmed by TMC leader Swarup Biswas, held a press conference where several technicians lashed out at the directors over their strike.

"We are not in favour of a shutdown," said Biswas, who reiterated the federation's objection to Rahool as the director of the film.

The halting of work is set to threaten the timely release of various Bengali films and web series, which are scheduled to be released in the next few months.

The airing of daily soaps is also set to be affected.

Crux of the matter

Rahool Mukherjee was announced as the director of an untitled project starring Prosenjit Chatterjee, Anirban Bhattacharya, Priyanka Sarkar by SVF recently.

FCTWEI president Swarup Biswas has reportedly claimed Rahool violated the rule by not informing the federation or the Directors' Association of Eastern India about his foreign visit for shooting.

Image by Avishek Mitra/IBNS

After the ban, SVF replaced Rahool with filmmaker Soumik Haldar, who directed Abar Bibaho Obhijaan last year. Rahool was incorporated into the film as a creative producer by SVF.

Even after the Directors Association of Eastern India (DAEI) on Friday lifted a three-month break of service which was imposed on Rahool, technicians, as the makers of the upcoming film claimed, refused to take the floor for the shooting of the film.

The situation escalated after several directors, producers and actors from the industry reached the Technicians Studios in Tollygunge, Kolkata, on Saturday morning in a show of support for Rahool, who shot to fame directing Dev starrer Kishmish.

Photo courtesy: IBNS

In a press briefing in the evening following its internal meeting, the federation said it has no objection to shooting the film with Soumik Haldar as the director but not Rahool Mukherjee.

Swarup Biswas, who also happens to be the brother of TMC heavyweight Aroop Biswas, cleared that technicians have no problem with working on the project, which is yet untitled, with Soumik Haldar as the director.

Photo courtesy: SVF

When asked about how the break of service lift on Rahool was overturned, Biswas said last Saturday, "The decision to overturn can't be done in a moment as it's an organisation which has its rules.

"The decision to impose a break of service was taken through AGM. So the decision to overturn it will also have to be made through a meeting."

(Images by Avishek Mitra/IBNS)