Anik Dutta's ‘Bhobishyoter Bhoot’ off theatres for three days; makers seek clarification

Three days after film maker Anik Dutta’s Bengali film ‘Bhobishyoter Bhoot’ (Ghosts of the Future) was abruptly pulled off screens, the makers of the film are yet to receive any written communication clarifying the reason that prompted the action.

Dutta’s film, reportedly a political satire, was taken off multiplexes and single screen theatres in Kolkata within 24 hours of its Friday release.

Speaking to the ET, Dutta said: “The producers will initiate legal process. It is weird that nobody has a clue who ordered the movie to be pulled off. There have been strong protests by artists and industry veterans. The largest one took place today in front of the Academy of Fine Arts in central Kolkata. This particular instance perhaps shows the amount of free speech we enjoy. It is now for the people to judge the degree of free speech in the state.”


Despite being cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification without any cuts, Dutta said the Kolkata Police had asked that the film be shown to them ahead of its commercial release.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee denied comment on the issue when asked about it during a press conference on Monday.


Veteran actor Soumitra Chatterjee, who participated in Tuesday’s protest meet, said: “This is an unprecedented incident. Nobody is giving a clear response on why the film had to suffer such an unceremonious exit from the halls. Some of us think that it might have been done deliberately as a form of revenge and I too subscribe to that opinion. This is not only shocking, but a demeaning act. If we do not protest against this now, this will get worse in future.”

Actor Kaushik Sen, who has also acted in the film, told ET that the distributors and hall owners refused to meet the film producers. “The immediate incharge of the screens said that the film was pulled off screens after they received an order from the higher authorities.” Criticising the move, he said: “During the previous regime, at least there were people who would shoulder responsibility, there would be debates among them. But the current dispensation has a new game plan. They will remain silent and in a way, won’t allow the film to be screened.”

A few years back, a television serial based on Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasrin’s work was taken off air in anticipation of law and order problems.