A city lawyer has filed a formal complaint against actor-director Parambrata Chatterjee and actor Swastika Mukherjee at the Gariahat Police Station in Kolkata. The legal action pertains to a social media post made five years ago, which has now resurfaced amid ongoing tensions within the Bengali film industry.
Background of the Complaint
The complaint was lodged by lawyer Joydeep Sen on Friday, accusing Chatterjee and Mukherjee of inciting and provoking post-poll political violence following the 2021 West Bengal assembly elections. The post in question was made on May 2, 2021, after the Trinamool Congress secured a decisive victory. Chatterjee had written on X, then known as Twitter, in Bengali: "Aaaj Biswa Rograni Dibas Ghoshito Hok" (Let today be declared World Beating Day). Under this post, Mukherjee had commented: "Hahaha, yes, let it happen!"
Sen's complaint alleges that these statements contributed to violence against BJP workers, including murder, rape, and arson, which occurred after the election results. He posted on X: "The complaint has been lodged against Parambrata Chatterjee and Swastika Mukherjee for committing offence, which contributed to murder of BJP workers, rape and outraging of modesty of BJP woman workers and large-scale violence and arson from May 2, 2021 onwards by Trinamool."
Industry Meeting and Chatterjee's Remarks
The legal development came a day after a meeting convened by actor and Shibpur BJP MLA Rudranil Ghosh. The gathering saw several prominent figures from Tollywood discussing industry grievances and operational pressure. Among those present was Parambrata Chatterjee, who had earlier apologized to the federation chief Swarup Biswas and had campaigned for the Trinamool Congress in the past.
Other attendees included producer Nishpal Singh Rane, director Srijit Mukherji, music director-filmmaker Indraadip Dasgupta, director Joydeep Mukherjee, actor-producer Sourav Das, and producer Firadasul Hasan. During the session, Chatterjee made a plea for peace regarding Tollywood's "ban culture" and stated that he had been "forced to compromise for the sake of his newborn."
Backlash Over Chatterjee's Comments
Chatterjee's remarks triggered immediate backlash, with sections of the industry and BJP supporters accusing him of political opportunism and hypocrisy. Critics argued that using his infant's well-being to justify his choices was inappropriate and revealed his true motives.
Costume designer Suchismita Dasgupta strongly condemned his shifting political stances. She said: "For someone who claims to lead the industry, repeatedly switching political sides only exposes his real motive: staying close to power. From Nandigram to the RG Kar movement to Rudranil Ghosh's convention, Parambrata's every move has reeked of hypocrisy and opportunism. Hiding behind his infant to justify a forced apology was disgraceful. Not every decision can be blamed on Swarup Biswas. Many in the industry have stood their ground without compromising or issuing public apologies just to keep working. The industry does not need intellectuals like him."
Many others shared screenshots of Chatterjee's earlier social media posts to highlight the contradiction in his political trajectory. The resurfaced posts have further fueled the controversy.
Broader Friction Within Tollywood
These legal developments coincide with broader friction within the Bengali film industry. Following the meeting involving Ghosh, discussions surfaced regarding the operational environment under the previous industry administration. On Thursday, Ghosh stated on Facebook that producers, directors, and technicians from nearly all guilds expressed a desire to work without fear or pressure.
Concurrently, industry stakeholder Firadasul Hasan argued that the existing producers' section within the Eastern India Motion Pictures Association (EIMPA) was dominated by inactive members who had not made films in years. This structure, he said, left active producers without an independent platform when key industry decisions were taken. "Producers need a separate guild. When important industry decisions are taken, producers need to be present to share our side of the story too," Hasan said.
The complaint against Chatterjee and Mukherjee adds another layer to the ongoing tensions, highlighting the intersection of politics, social media, and the film industry in West Bengal.
