Kolkata Filmmaker Utsav Mukherjee Reported Missing Amid Cyberbullying Crisis
In a distressing development from Kolkata, acclaimed filmmaker and screenwriter Utsav Mukherjee has been reported missing since Thursday. The 46-year-old director, celebrated for his collaborative work with filmmaker Anik Datta on notable projects, left his south Kolkata residence around 11:30 am for a bank errand in Nimta and has not been seen since.
Wife Reveals Struggle with Depression and Online Harassment
According to his wife, writer Moupiya Banerjee, Mukherjee had been grappling with severe depression, profoundly affected by prolonged trolling and cyberbullying. Banerjee disclosed that their last communication occurred at 2:22 pm on Thursday while he was at the bank, after which his phone was switched off permanently.
"He carried a basic phone and left his smartphone behind because I needed access to an OTP," Banerjee explained. "Before leaving, he asked me to update his profile and cover photos. We frequently changed social media photos as a strategy to counter online harassment."
The cyberbullying campaign against Mukherjee included abusive comments and even a fake domain created to impersonate him. This relentless harassment inflicted serious damage on his mental health and public reputation, according to his wife.
Police Investigation and Last Known Movements
Officers at the Anandapur Police Station confirmed that Mukherjee visited a bank in Nimta on Thursday afternoon. His final conversation with Banerjee was verified at 2:22 pm, with his phone going offline after 3:35 pm. Police indicated his last known location was near Ultadanga station.
Banerjee speculated he might have taken a train home to avoid traffic congestion. Law enforcement has alerted the Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF), while notifying nearby police stations about the disappearance.
Police confirmed Banerjee visited them twice—first for notification and subsequently to file a formal missing person complaint. No ransom demands have been received thus far. If Mukherjee remains unfound by Friday night, a comprehensive investigation will commence, potentially involving the anti-rowdy section and missing person squad from the detective department by Saturday.
Background of the Missing Filmmaker
Utsav Mukherjee holds a master's degree in film studies from Jadavpur University and has built an impressive career in Bengali cinema. He made his directorial debut with 'Half Serious' in 2012, followed by 'Bheetu'. His directing credits include the Zee5 original 'Bhalobashar Shohor: Shorshe Ilish' and the web series 'Cabaret'.
Mukherjee's collaborative work with Anik Datta includes co-writing 'Bhobishyoter Bhoot', serving as associate director for 'Aparajito', and co-writing screenplay and dialogue for 'Joto Kando Kolkatatei'. He also assisted Rangan Chakraborty on non-fiction projects.
Industry Colleagues Express Concern
Director Anik Datta expressed deep concern about Mukherjee's disappearance. "I am not keeping well. It has been a while since we met," Datta stated. "He was a co-writer for 'Bhobisyoter Bhoot' and an associate director in 'Aparajito'. He was the co-screenplay and co-dialogue writer of 'Joto Kando Kolkatatei'. I want to know what happened to him."
Costume designer Suchismita Dasgupta, who has collaborated with Mukherjee since his directorial debut, shared her anxiety. "I just want to know that he is safe. I have been working with him since his first film. He is a very bright writer and director with a promising future. He possesses remarkable wit. Anik-da's films contain numerous alliterations, many of which originated from Utsav's creativity."
Police have confirmed that Banerjee previously informed them about cybercrime issues affecting her husband. Following their wedding, she consulted a lawyer and alerted authorities about the online harassment, highlighting the severity of the situation preceding his disappearance.
