Kolkata: On Sunday, Sonarpur Dakshin BJP MLA Roopa Ganguly and Shibpur BJP MLA Rudranil Ghosh jointly addressed the media for the first time since being included in a committee formed by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari to address issues plaguing Tollywood. The press conference was held at Nandan, where two films—Samarpan Sengupta's 'Pratyabartan' and Jayabrata Das's 'The Academy of Fine Arts'—were being screened back-to-back.
Artistes Highlight Change in Governance
Those associated with both films, including singer-actor Silajit, actors Sourav Das, Rishav Basu, and Anuradha Mukherjee, stated that the joint press conference reflected the change the new government intends to bring about. They underscored that cooperation, mutual respect, and unity are the way forward for Bengali cinema.
The artistes pointed to the decline in Tollywood, noting that the number of films produced annually has dropped from 800 in 2016 to just 200 now. Rudranil Ghosh remarked, "Not just artistes, even media professionals were blacklisted if they didn't toe the line. We have to create an environment where every skilled worker can work freely."
Audience, Not Connections, to Decide Film Success
Roopa Ganguly emphasized that the new regime will let audiences, not connections, determine which films survive in theatres. "Earlier, contacts and not merit decided which film would get screening space. Now, a few days after release, viewers will give a verdict on whether they like it or not. The audience will decide which film they will watch again," she said.
As questions mount over how the industry will function—including who will decide on mandatory technicians for outstation shoots, wage structures, the role of a screening committee, and mandatory primetime slots for Bengali films—both MLAs stated that groundwork has already begun.
Review of Nandan Infrastructure
Ganguly said, "Our government is just 10 days old. We need time to sort out issues. Everything will be tabled in front of all. For example, Nandan has a few rooms upstairs. A lot of money was spent to get the Public Works Department to do the job, but no care was taken to look after the screens or the sound system. We are doing many such reviews. We will submit a report to the Chief Minister."
Ghosh added, "Those who formulated rules that harmed the industry have been ousted. The Competition Commission of India has some norms that should govern all industries in India. We will talk to seniors to ensure that proper norms are in place."
When asked about the replacement for Swarup Biswas, Ganguly stated, "Someone impartial will be chosen."
