Just a day after the BJP’s big win in the West Bengal assembly elections, the political changes have reached the Bengali film industry. On Tuesday, some producers protested at the Eastern India Motion
Pictures Association (EIMPA) office, asking for changes in how it operates because of the new government in the state. These producers and distributors, many of whom are believed to support or be close to the BJP, sent a letter this morning asking for a meeting within three days. They want to talk about the current situation in the state after the political shift and how it might affect the Bengali entertainment industry.
The demand was made by several association members, including senior producer Ratan Saha, his son and producer-distributor Satadip Saha, director Milan Bhowmik, and producer Krishnanarayan Daga. They also protested outside EIMPA president Pia Sengupta’s office, asking for a meeting soon and for all stakeholders to be included in any future decisions about the association, including who will be the next president. The protesting producers said that Sengupta supports the Trinamool Congress.
Sengupta told reporters that EIMPA is not a political group and has always kept good relations with whichever party is in power. She said, “We welcome the BJP government in the state. But positions within EIMPA are decided through elections.” These events are happening as West Bengal goes through a political change, with some in the film industry, especially producers and distributors, saying that the industry is controlled by a group linked to TMC leaders, which keeps many talented artists from getting work because of their political beliefs.
