With the Calcutta High Court paving way for screening of the film Danga The Riot in which Jan Sangh founder Shyama Prasad Mukherjee's character is cast in the lead role, in West Bengal, its Director Milan Bhowmik today said he would request Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to see the movie.
Bhowmik said that his film had been cleared for screening in West Bengal in an order by the Calcutta High Court on May 23.
"Now I would urge the Honourable Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee to see the film. Considering her busy schedule, we would be grateful if she finds time to go through the story line and script of the film for once," he said.
"We are hopeful once Banerjee, who loves works of art, comes to know about the film's content, that it talks about unity among different religions at a time of bloodshed and violence, she will very much appreciate the film's message," one of the producers of the film added.
Informing the film was slated to be screened at 37 theatres across Kolkata on April 27 after granted U/A by Censor, Bhowmik said, "That did not happen. But, now I am hopeful it will be screened in all these theatre halls in next few days."
Bhowmik said he had moved the court earlier this month alleging his movie was facing problem of release and the court gave order for screening on May 23.
However, the Kolkata Police in a post on social network during the end of April had said there was no attempt on the part of administration to stop screening of a film which had been awarded a U/A certificate by the Central Board of Film Certification.
The director said he was also exploring option to rent auditoriums in different parts of the state and screen the film for the public.
Bhowmik said the film is themed on a love story during communal discord and bloodshed in the backdrop of 1946 communal riots in Kolkata and the character of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee came as someone who had saved thousands of lives and was popular among people of both communities.
"It is a commercial film which talks about brotherhood and justificably touches on Mukherjee's contribution in building the nation, he said.
The movie has been made in Hindi and Bengali language.
The Hindi version of 'Danga' is running successfully in theatres of Assam, Bihar and Jharkhand, Bhowmik claimed and added "The Hindi version is doing well in other states. I am facing problems only in Bengal."
The film, set in Kolkata of 1946, featured historical characters such as Nehru, Jinnah, the British-ruled Bengals last Prime Minister Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy and Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, founder of the then Bharatiya Jana Sangh.
Shyama Prasad Mukherjee's character is essayed by TV actor and former Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) Chairman Gajendra Chauhan.
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