Kolkata: After stellar start to the festive season and three weeks of good run at the box office, Bengali cinema is facing challenge in the Kali Puja-Diwali week. Fearing that the number of shows for Bengali films – ‘Bohurupi' and ‘Tekka' — will plummet with two big Hindi releases coinciding with the Diwali festivities, Tollywood is seeking help from the Bengal govt to intervene and mitigate the impending crisis. Stakeholders feel this support for homegrown films is crucial in the backdrop of the Union ministry of culture's recent acknowledgment of Bengali as a ‘classical language'.
Speaking about the battle for screens of ‘Bohurupi' with ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3' and ‘Singham Again', director Shiboprosad Mukherjee said: "Bengali cinema has sustained both single screens and multiplexes for three weeks. Yet, during Diwali, our films run the risk of being pulled down. I could still comprehend if our cinema didn't do good business. The exhibitors are earning by screening our films. My film had back-to-back houseful shows during and after the pujas. Why should our shows be cut down now when it gives business during the dull period?"
Some exhibitors are preferring Hindi films by distributors that have promised big releases during Christmas. "Unless the state govt intervenes, the Bengali industry will not be able to reap the benefit it can. After Bengali is deemed a classical language, we request the govt to intervene and support our industry," Mukherjee said.
The long-standing conflict between Tollywood and Bollywood has been a contentious issue for years. In the past, distributors would adamantly demand that their Hindi releases be given exclusive screening rights, refusing to share the screen with Bengali cinema. Phrases like ‘preferred screening' only for Bollywood releases were often used. "This time, no such stipulation exists, leaving the decision to the discretion of the exhibitors. They must now choose whether to allocate space to Bengali films, which have been their sustenance during times when Bollywood failed to attract audiences. Without a legislative mandate requiring the screening of Bengali films to bolster the regional industry, there is little recourse if an exhibitor opts not to showcase Bengali productions," said Navin Choukhani of Navina Cinema.
From the exhibitors' point of view, the issue lies in preferring those that continue providing year-round content. Distributor-exhibitor Satadeep Saha said, "We have to give preference to those who give content throughout the year. We also can't not give preference to Bengali cinema that has sustained us."