Bengali film director Rahool Mukherjee faced controversy as technicians were absent during the shoot of his film in Tollygunge studio. Mukherjee was banned by the Federation of Cine Technicians’ Workers of Eastern India (FCTWEI) on July 20 for violating its norms related to the filming of Bangladeshi series ‘Lohu’.
However, the Directors Association of Eastern India (Directors Association of Film and TV) extended support to Mukherjee, who could not be blamed for the situation. Only actors Prasenjit Chatterjee, Anirban Bhattacharya, and Aparajita Addy attended the studio. Other directors and actors, including Raj Chakraborty, Kaushik Gangopadhyay, and Arindam Sil, also expressed their dissent over the technicians’ stand.
Let’s see what other Directors, Celebrities, and Politicians have to say about this:
Director & Politician Raj Chakraborty stated: “There cannot be any shoot without Director, It is not possible to shoot because we work with a large team of people. Everyone gets benefited through it. There are some misunderstandings I feel. The shooting cannot be completed neither without Director nor Technicians. If the Director gets bounded by rule book, it becomes difficult for a director to continue shooting. I am not disrespecting anyone, but we have to think that when a film is making on the process, we need actors, directors, makeup artists, Cameraman, Technicians and everyone has their own roles on the shooting floor. How can a film to be shot without Director? A director is the captain of the ship, he plans almost everything, he is the mastermind of the film.
Everyone should know their duties, no one should overpower anyone. In this creative industry there can be creative battles but not that who will work and who will not. There should be work from all over the world, there should not lack any work enthusiasm.” The last message he gave was to “work with Unity and respect the captain of the ship that is the Director. This are all the initial misunderstanding, I hope it will get solved, as the Technicians are skilled in Bengal”
Actor Parambrata Chatterjee remarked: “Only judiciary and Executive has the power. No one has the right to take power in our own hands, for that there should be a basic understanding for the laws in our Country. Not only in India, in fact Internationally as well, any company, any union, any individual does not have any right to create law. The word ‘gupi’ has been transformed into a legal word. This is not any legal word. Those who are trying to change it, they are going against Law.”
Actor & Politician Rudranil Ghosh said: “Federation is very essential system. The one who is managing the system is not looking the present condition.”
Actor & Politician Dev Adhikary spoke: “I have not done anything bad on being a MP. Do not give any political side to this matter. We want to keep calm and solve the issues in good environment. “Further he said “Today there should be a shooting but technicians have not arrived, and shooting has been stopped. Power should be everyone should get food after all. Everyone should go all together that’s power. That the work of Federation. I am not supporting that to stop any shooting work.”
Actor Prosenjit Chatterjee remarked: “I am facing a mental depression because in the morning we read a scene and at night we read scenes. Consecutively 9 days, after waking up for shoot I am hearing there will be any shoot today. We as artists create Emotions on screen, we as a whole all are emotional people. Be it Directors, technicians and everyone, we should have the mutual respect along with each other. Let us move for the positive thing.”
Producer Amit Agarwal told: “Whatever information I have is that there is some violation of the rules of the federation and the director of the film is suspended, result of which the shooting got cancelled. It’s very unfortunate that the shooting was cancelled because it’s a big loss for the producer and work and remuneration loss to many technicians. It could have been better to resolve the matter on the sidelines (even if there was any penalty or suspension in due course) and let the shooting happen.
Bengali films business (specially the Box Office collections) is not in a very stable situation and when the budget increases for whatsoever reasons, it becomes more difficult to recover even the COP. Moreover, it leaves a bad impression on the new producers and entrants to the industry. I can only wish that any matter should be resolved amicably together and there shouldn’t be any loss to anyone and it’s only for the betterment of Bengali Film and TV Industry.”
Director Kaushik Ganguly, too, expressed his concern. “Artists respect the institution as long as they enjoy freedom. No power or institution is stronger than an artist,” he wrote on X.
TMC leader Kunal Ghosh spoke out in support of young director Rahool. “Even if director Rahool Mukherjee made a mistake, I don’t support the punishment. A discussion could have taken place. Some actions by the Federation are harming Tollywood. Producers and directors are getting frustrated, and the working environment is suffering. No one is speaking up now, but it’s affecting the future. This is creating obstacles for getting more work in the industry,” he posted on social media.
Director Raajhorshee De said: “I can only say that there is no divide between Directors and Technicians. We are one, we are equal. But Guild or Federation is just a mere body – they are not Law maker or beyond Constitution. Right to work cannot be snatched on gunpoint.”
Director & Producer Ashok Viswanathan said: “I do not think the shooting should be stopped under any circumstances. I feel the shooting should be allowed to continue. The problems can be settled on the sidelines, the negotiations can be worked upon. There are two perspectives on this issue, according to the technicians one of the Director violated some rules, and this rule sis actually broken or not should be look at. The investigation can continue. But on the other hand, one can does not interfere with the person’s right to work. One should be allowed to work and can settle all the negotiations outside the shooting floor.”
Director Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury stated: “A director has to make the film, so if the technicians don’t come it is very unfortunate. All the Actors, DOP and Directors are on set but without Reason technicians don’t come there should be some respect to the Directors. This is unacceptable and if one is penalized only court has the right to it. One can’t penalize there can be requests or advice if there are any mistakes. But there is no right to take anyone’s work. There are some procedures. We do not know the exact problem; I hope it to be solved. Though there is Unity in the Industry”.
