KOLKATA, May 14 -- Veteran filmmaker Gautam Ghose on Thursday voiced concern over the deteriorating condition of the Bengali film industry amid the ongoing protest against Eastern India Motion Picture Association (EIMPA) president Piya Sengupta.

Ghose expressed concern that producers in Bengal are being asked to provide detailed budget breakups. "Prosenjit (Chatterjee) told me he was asked to submit a budget breakup. Why should a producer have to disclose the budget? I have come to EIMPA after a long time. The Bengali film industry is in bad shape. There is hardly any turnover and cinema halls are shutting down. The internal turmoil must be resolved quickly so that the industry can get back on track," he said.

After BJP came to power in the state, a section of Bengali film producers, distributors and exhibitors has been demanding Sengupta's resignation, alleging that she failed to discharge her responsibilities properly. Protesters have also questioned the legitimacy of her appointment, claiming she was "selected" and not elected through a proper voting process.

The protesting group has accused Sengupta and her associates of failing to work in coordination with producers. Allegations of favouritism and financial irregularities have also surfaced against Sengupta, who reportedly shared close ties with former TMC minister Aroop Biswas and his brother Swarup Biswas, president of the Federation of Cine Technicians and Workers of Eastern India. "It is politics in Tollywood that has resulted in this mess. Artistes are being banned from work and there is a nexus between Piya Sengupta, Aroop Biswas and Swarup Biswas. We will raise our voice at the May 22 general meeting," said exhibitor Satadeep Saha.

Last week, Sengupta had said she would move court and resign if her presidency was declared "illegal". Senior EIMPA member Ratan Saha said on Thursday that Sengupta has approached the court and that a general meeting will be held on May 22 to decide the next course of action.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.