Supreme Court directs West Bengal govt to pay Rs20 lakh to Bhobishyoter Bhoot producers

The Supreme Court bench of justices DY Chandrachud and Hemant Gupta asked the government of West Bengal to pay compensation of Rs20 lakh to the producers of Bhobishyoter Bhoot (2019), directed by Anik Dutta, today (11 April) for imposing an unofficial ban on the film.

The satirical spoof film, commenting on the political regimes at the state and the central government, was passed with a U/A certificate by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). However, within a day of its official release on 15 February 2019, the film was removed from 44 theatres across Bengal without any official notice from the government.

The Supreme Court also directed the government to pay the damages to the theatre owners who were stopped from screening the film. When they were asked by the cast and crew of the film about the ban, they stated that had received orders from "a higher authority".

The producer of the film, Indibily Creative Pvt Ltd, issued the petition stating that the government was misusing its police power, restricting the freedom of expression. Intellectuals and artistes from different areas of the city staged protests to lift the ban. On 26 March, the Supreme Court bench of justices directed the government to allow ‘smooth screening’ of the film and stated that governemnt had did not have the right to intervene in the freedom of expression.

The film was re-released on 5 April and has been running successfully with various houseful shows in and outside Kolkata.