Kolkata: The govt-appointed screening committee for Tollywood, which convened on Saturday, is relying on investments in films and the track record of production houses while arriving at a formula for prioritising movie release dates on occasions when Bengali cinema usually performs well. However, this strategy has left the industry divided, with a producer of acclaimed indie movies announcing that he may not invest in Bengali cinema in the future.
The committee has identified the so-called most-sought-after 11-week windows (prime days), including Saraswati Puja, Netaji's birth anniversary, Republic Day, Poila Boishak, Ramzan Eid, Independence Day, Durga Puja, Kali Puja, Christmas, and two dates during summer vacations. A maximum of three Bengali films can release on each of these occasions. Big production houses have each given multiple numbers of movies they wish to make in 2026, and the fight now is to prioritise these releases.
Initial reports mentioned a Rs 2 crore ceiling for films eligible for prime day releases. However, Piya Sengupta, chairperson of Eastern India Motion Pictures Association (EIMPA), told TOI on Sunday that no figure has been quoted. "If Bengali cinema has to combat big-budget Hindi or English movies, we need to do it with Bangla films made on a significant budget. A small Bengali film will not be able to stand in front of the muscle power of Bollywood and Hollywood releases. No big film will release 14 days prior or after the release of big Bengali movies on these 11 weeks," Sengupta said.
Sengupta added that preference will be given to producers making regular investments in Tollywood. "We welcome new producers but can't give preference to fly-by-night ones. A newcomer needs to prove his commitment to the industry before getting choice release dates," she added.
With at least a dozen ‘giant producers' vying to get a slot on coveted days, do films like Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury-directed and produced ‘Dear Maa', Baudhayan Mukherji's produced ‘Manikbabur Megh', or Pradipta Bhattacharyya's ‘Nadhorer Bhela' stand a chance to release on these occasions? "They need to mail us the details of their productions. We will take a call after that," she said.
Mukherji told TOI that his Little Lamb Films "may not be able to invest in Bengali cinema" if such a system is accepted. "I am appalled to see a roomful of so-called stakeholders coming up with a flawed strategy. Can Bengali films made in some ridiculous 12-14 days fight Hindi, South, or international biggies on the basis of investment? It is content alone that can give the fight. Currently, our Indie Filmmakers' Collective is nationally trying to support indie cinema while here is a committee governed by monopolistic and restrictive ideals that has little respect for low-budget independent Bengali cinema."