Artistes of the Bengali film fraternity and intellectuals took a protest march on the streets with the demand to allow the screenings of Anik Dutta’s Bhobishyoter Bhoot on Saturday (9 March) afternoon.
Stalwarts including Soumitra Chatterjee, Aparna Sen, along with filmmaker Kamaleswar Mukherjee, Buddhadeb Dasgupta, writer Ajijul Haq, actor Barun Chanda, professor Sanjoy Mukhopadhyay and many others attended the march.
Dutta’s satirical film Bhobishyoter Bhoot was released on 15 February after being passed by the CBFC with a U/A certificate. However, within a day of release, the film was lifted from 44 theatres across the state with an instruction from a "higher authority".
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The film criticises both, the reigning political parties at the state and the central levels and hence, it is believed to be become a cause of concern for the political parties. There have been numerous protest events and various important personalities have expressed their disgust over such suppression on the freedom of expression.
“Nobody has the right to stop the screening of a film that has been cleared by the CBFC. We will take to the streets again and again if the basic rights are snatched away,” filmmaker Sen said at the march.
Chanda, who plays a significant role in the film, said, “Without criticism, no country can walk the path of progress. Any kind of criticism should be taken into consideration. Satire is a branch of art and literature that cannot be shut forcibly.”
While many were present in the march, significant faces from the industry were also not seen in the gathering. Dasgupta stated many of their colleagues may not have turned up in fear, but they are all by their side and everybody is protesting against such a heinous step taken allegedly by the reigning government.