UK shoot cancellation: Actors, directors lash out at film body

KOLKATA: The

Eastern India

Motion Pictures Association (EIMPA) is redundant in Bengal. That's a statement made by producer-director

Shiboprosad Mukhopadhyay

after 12 out of 19 technicians flew to Kolkata from London on Saturday after not shooting for `Chalbaaz'. Seven other technicians will fly out on Monday . This was after president of the Film and Cine Technicians Workers of Eastern India (FCTWEI) refused to listen to EIMPA chairperson and deputy chairperson saying that there is no MoU stating that19 technicians ought to be taken abroad for shooting.

Highlighting the `bad message' given out to the industry,

Mukhopadhyay

said, “If cinema is an art and a business, stalling work is criminal. People abroad will feel scared to come and shoot in Bengal. Problems could have been sorted out by both parties across the table. Despite being a member of EIMPA, I've never got any support from the association in my productions. All producers here are fighting a lonely battle.“

Though director-producer Anup Sengupta too is against the cancellation of shooting, he insisted that FCTWEI has always been fair with everyone. “The misunderstanding between both parties needs to be resolved soon for the interest of the industry ,“ Sengupta said.

Meanwhile, Union minister Babul Supriyo said, “Holistically speaking, I can say only one thing.Any union in any field, led by whichever political party , that stops work especially causing huge losses to the entrepreneurs is resorting to anarchism and self-destruction. I would love to see a man with spine who would stand up and protest and make everyone sit across the table to sort our differences amicably without being unfair to anyone.“

Nitesh Sharma, vice-chairman of EIMPA, said, “Despite saying there is no MoU between FCTWEI and EIMPA, we could not convince Federation to allow this shoot. This incident is going to have a negative impact on producers keen on investing in Tollywood.“ On being asked if EIMPA can really help producers stuck in any mess, Sharma said, “This is a question that I too am asking.“

Meanwhile, there are rumours that proximity to office-bearers of EIMPA can bail out select producers. To this, Sengupta said, “I strongly protest this. My wife Piya Sengupta being the vice-president of EIMPA or my son Bonnie being a hero has no bearing on how I function. I don't have producers lining up in front of me because of my family connections.“

Among the 12 technicians who are returning, three had reached London on June 21. The cost of sending each of them back without getting any work done has been Rs 1.25 lakh. Actress Locket Chatterjee asked why they went to London when FCTWEI didn't want the shoot to happen. “Technicians act under instructions of FCTWEI president. This move is meant to blackmail producers.Stalling shooting abroad tarnishes India's image. Strict legal actions must be taken for this,“ Chatterjee said.

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