A state-run school in Kolkata cancelled the scheduled screenings of Ritwik Ghatak's documentary ‘Amar Lenin’ and his acclaimed feature ‘Komal Gandhar’, following objections from local ruling party supporters over the films' political content, reports UNB.
Naktala Setu, a cultural organisation, had arranged the event on February 10 to mark Ghatak's birth centenary. However, the school authorities revoked their permission on February 5, citing "certain developments," said Onkar Roy, a spokesperson for the organisation.
"The headmaster initially supported the screenings and even mentioned being a fan of Ghatak's work. But after February 5, he appeared pressured and informed us about issues with the screenings," Roy said on Thursday.
Attempts to relocate the event to a local club also failed due to alleged pressure from higher authorities. Eventually, the screenings were held on the roadside in the nearby Bidhan Pally area, drawing hundreds of viewers.
The headmaster attributed the cancellation to scheduling conflicts rather than external influence. However, a school official revealed concerns from some guardians about the political nature of ‘Amar Lenin’. The official noted there were no objections to ‘Komal Gandhar’, which portrays the struggles of partition-era migrants.
‘Amar Lenin’ (1970), initially censored for its political content, was cleared for release after the intervention of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. ‘Komal Gandhar’ is part of Ghatak’s trilogy, alongside ‘Meghe Dhaka Tara’ and ‘Subarnarekha’, highlighting the socio-cultural impact of partition.
This incident mirrors past controversies in Bengal, including the 2019 disruption of Anik Dutta's ‘Bhabisyoter Bhoot’, which was later reinstated by the Supreme Court following public protests.
Bd-pratidin English/ Afia
