SEVERAL FILMMAKERS on Tuesday assembled at a studio in Kolkata to express solidarity with an industry colleague at whose set work has been affected since February 3 as all technicians associated with the project are allegedly staying away.

Although the views of the technicians on this alleged boycott were not available, the director concerned, Srijit Roy, claimed that it could probably be certain remarks attributed to him that were purportedly against the technicians’ federation chief, Swarup Biswas.

Roy, however, claimed he did not make any unsavoury remark against Biswas, who is the brother of West Bengal minister and senior Trinamool Congress leader Arup Biswas.

Roy’s latest film project has been stalled as a result of the alleged boycott.  Roy denied the allegations against him in a Facebook Live session on Tuesday, expressing concern over the “unfair treatment” some filmmakers face in Bengal.

This is the second time that Tollygunge’s entertainment industry is facing yet another production crisis, just six months after a similar conflict. The situation has sparked a war of words between industry figures and political leaders.

The set construction work for Roy’s serial began on January 27, but underlying tensions reportedly existed earlier as well. On Monday night, portions of the set were allegedly destroyed and technicians have since refused to work.

“I  am still trying to understand…The Chief Minister [Mamata Banerjee] has repeatedly said that there cannot be stoppage of work at any cost, but why is this [situation] being repeated,”  said director Raj Chakraborty, who is also a TMC MLA.

Chakraborty emphasised Roy’s long-standing contributions to the industry, which provides livelihoods for hundreds of technicians. He called for “dialogue and internal resolution” rather than involving the CM in every issue

“He (Roy) has been working in this industry for 15-20 years. Nearly 400 technicians also earn their livelihood through it. However, we should not rush to the CM for every single thing. Resolve issues through dialogue,” he said.

“We don’t know on whose instructions the technicians are stopping work, despite the CM’s directive. Roy is a big name. For the past two days, technicians have not been coming to his set. During the previous such conflict, in July last year, the CM said a committee would be formed but this is yet to be done,” said actor Parambrata Chatterjee.

Roy claimed that the technicians are demanding an apology from him before they resume work, but questioned what he had done wrong. “We don’t know on whose instruction technicians are stopping work. Someone must be instructing them,” claimed Roy.

Roy denied allegations of misbehaviour, saying, “False allegations are being made against me. Why is it being said that I have misbehaved? If the set-making work stops, they (technicians) are the ones who will be in trouble. So if they suddenly stop working, it will affect their lives.”

Meanwhile, BJP leader Samik Bhattacharya criticised the TMC, claiming they “harmed lesser-known directors too and created an environment of uncertainty by demanding filmmakers’ subservience.”

“The TMC has spoiled the career of small-time directors who make low budget projects. When TMC demands that filmmakers should bow down before them, it will lead to such uncertainty.”

TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said that such issues within the industry should be “resolved internally through discussion. “There is no need to politicise such matters,” said TMC leader Kunal Ghosh

According to sources, members of the Directors Association are visiting the studio to take stock of the situation. There is concern that the stand-off could escalate, potentially leading to a complete shutdown of serial production from Wednesday if the technicians’ demands are not met. Such a widespread stoppage would severely impact Tollygunge’s entertainment industry.

DAEI ( Director’s Association of Eastern India) secretary Sudeshna Roy said, “This is repeatedly happening, who is stopping them to work and why they are doing so. In the past 15 days, three people’s work have been stopped in between. It is unfortunate and  difficult to work like this. When a similar situation cropped up a few months ago, three part of our industry – Dev, Prosenjit Chatterjee and Goutam Ghosh – met the CM. The CM had clearly said she doesnt support strike or cease work. We appeal to those who had met the CM last time… We were asked to wait for sometime for a permanent solution,” she said.  – WITH PTI INPUTS

(Srijit Roy has worked as creative director for television shows such as Neem Phooler Madhu and Kori Khela. In the OTT space, Srijit has helmed Bouma Detective. Bishohori, his latest web series, starring Solanki Roy, is set to release later this month)