Srijit Mukherji’s upcoming film Gumnaami has received a 'U' (unrestricted) screening certificate, without cuts, from the Central Board of Film Certification, despite resistance from family members of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, leaders of the All-India Forward Bloc and researchers on Netaji.
According to Mukherji, the film is based on three theories from the Justice Manoj Mukherjee commission set up to inquire into the Indian National Army founder's disappearance after the Second World War and hence there is no scope for distorting history or attempt to establish any conclusion about Netaji's last days.
Mukherji has been cautious in not using the term ‘Gumnami Baba’ to avoid directly referring to the speculation of Netaji spending the last days of his life disguised as a reclusive monk in Uttar Pradesh. Gumnaami translates as 'unknown', which justifies the objective of the film to launch an investigation into the disappearance.
In an interview with the Ananda Bazar Patrika newspaper, Mukherji said, “Those who have the constitutional authority to give orders on films have given a clean chit to my film, without a single cut. Therefore, all the debates and unnecessary rumours should come to an end now.”
Earlier, Debabrata Roy, leader of the Forward Bloc, had sent a letter from his lawyer stating that there is no connection between the late Gumnami Baba and Netaji. The letter further stated that in a report published by the Mukherjee commission, it was clearly stated that the DNA of Gumnami Baba and Netaji did not match.
Roy dismissed the idea of Netaji living in disguise and deceiving the government of India and asked if the film attempts to establish various fictional accounts as the truth.
Bose’s great grandson Chandra Bose echoed Roy, saying, “The government of India has already dismissed the report of the Mukherjee commission. Then how can a film be made on the report?” Bose said some people were trying to manipulate Bose’s story for monetary reasons.
Featuring Prosenjit Chatterjee as Subhas Chandra Bose, Gumnaami is slated for release during Puja, in the month of October.