Feeling sorry for Bose family because of the way they are getting slammed: Srijit Mukherji

Taking to Twitter, Chandra Bose accused director Srijit Mukherji of cheating the censor board to get the certification for his upcoming film Gumnaami which is based on the death and disappearance of one of the greatest freedom fighters of British India Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

Reacting to the "cheating" comment sharply, Srijit said, "I am not getting time to file a criminal defamation against Chandra Bose due to promotional activities. If I get time after the film's release on October 2, I will give my answer to each and everyone who have defamed me.... I am feeling sorry for the Bose family for the way they are getting criticised by people on social media."

Earlier, Srijit had tweeted, "I will ask you to be careful about your choice of words @Chandrabosebjp one last time. You have threatened me in a press conference and are now saying that I cheated the censor board not realizing the respected panel watches the whole movie, doesn't read an one liner abt it."

Indirectly referring to the members of the Bose family who have objected to the film, Srijit said, "Some people had the confusion over the name but I explained to them through the film's poster, teaser and trailer. It is my responsibility to drive out the confusion. I have dealt with three theories of Netaji's death and also the Mukherjee Commission's report over Subhas Chandra Bose's death in the film.

Some people, who think it is very easy to change the script overnight and send it to the censor board to mislead, know nothing about cinema.

I feel the All India Forward Bloc (AIFB)'s reaction to the film was more civilised. They had raised question but also wanted to listen to my explanation. But some are just behaving in an uncivilised manner."

Accusation of Netaji's family against Srijit

Netaji's family has accused the director of altering the name of the film from Gumnaami Baba to Gumnaami to get the certification.

The family said in a statement, "For the last year ever since Srijit announced the film 'Gumnami Baba' he has said it is based on the book 'Conundrum' by Chandrachud Ghosh & Anuj Dhar & has appeared with the authors. He has suddenly changed his stance to get past the Censor Board & says the film is based on the Justice Mukherjee Commission Report. He has also changed the name of the film !...."

Accusing Srijit of duping public with his own theory of Netaji's death and disappearance, the family said in a statement, "...This report states on p 121 - 122 that the DNA tests carried out with the teeth of the Baba & the blood of 5 Bose family members shows that there is NO  match. Have the leaders of the Forward Bloc read this report ? 

Thus Srijit is duping the public & his so-called third theory about Netaji is a complete hoax. It is shocking that the Forward Bloc has been taken in by this & invited Srijit to show a trailer in the presence of media." 

Gumnaami and its plot

The film Gumnaami is based on the Mukherjee Commission hearings that take us through the various theories on the death and disappearance of one of the greatest freedom fighters of British India Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

Tollywood superstar Prosenjit Chatterjee has essayed the character of Netaji in Gumnaami, which is slated to release in Bengali, Hindi and English on October 2. The film also stars Anirban Bhattacharya and Tanusree Chakraborty in significant roles.

(Images by Soumo Das/IBNS)