The decision by a theatre run by Kolkata Municipal Corporation to stop Saturdays scheduled screening of a justreleased movie that alludes to the now infamous Park Street rape has got tongues wagging about chief minister Mamata Banerjees intolerance.
Soon after the rape of a woman,comments by a ruling party leader about women staying out late had triggered a controversy about Trinamools attitude towards women.
Now the surprise move by the Star Theatre to stop screening Agnidev Chatterjees 3 Kanya has critics seeing a link between the two.Pre-release TV promos had played up a dialogue from the film Is it okay for a prostitute to be raped
At the very last minute,a Star spokesman said theres pressure from higher-ups not to show the film that is anti-government, the director said.The film stars two national award winning Tollywood actorsRituparna Sengupta and Ananya Chatterjeeand Unnati Davra from Bollywood.
State education minister Bratya Basu plays a cameo in the film.There cant be any film for or against the government in this country.I am yet to know the details, Basu said.
The makers denied the film is based on the Park Street rape.Is that the only instance of rape the director asked TOI.He confirmed,Star is the only contracted theatre not playing the film. Ranjan Ganguly of Artage,which manages Stars affairs,called it a coordination gap.Under the new dispensation,we are committed to stage plays every Thursday and Saturday.Friday,too,was booked for a homage to Tagore, he said.It might be screened from Sunday, he said.
State home secretary Basudeb Banerjee said,Star Theatre is not a government hall,but owned by the KMC and has been given on lease to a private party.It is their discretion which film to screen.The government has not interfered in any way.