Bhobishyoter Bhoot

Bhobishyoter Bhoot is a 2019 Indian Bengali-language satirical comedy film directed by Anik Dutta. The film was released on 15 February 2019. Despite its similar topics, Dutta states that it is not a sequel to his film, Bhooter Bhabishyat. All single and multiple screen theaters were stopped from showing the film immediately after release citing "orders from upper management". Various leading newspapers quoted unnamed sources, as well as Dutta, saying that the West Bengal police had issued these instructions to the theatres.

Plot

Calcuttan Ghosts were rendered homeless as all the old haunted buildings were converted into multistoried buildings and malls. Various types of ghosts like politician, extortionist, cabaret dancer, Jatra actor are there. They constantly face certain social and political issues confronting the present times and also marginalized by their shrinking habitat in the real world, they conjecture whether they should find a place in the virtual world or cyberspace for their survival. Some of them take shelter in a disused refugee camp. They plan to make themselves fit for the new world and fight against injustices. And finally find a very novel solution to their existential crisis.

Cast

Paran Banerjee as Mrityunjoy Biswas, Natasurjo
Chandrayee Ghosh as Miss Rupali
Barun Chanda as Harisadhan Ray aka Harry, the ghost of a manager of old British Mercantile Firm
Sabyasachi Chakraborty as Bhuter raja
Kaushik Sen as Ambubachi Dutta, a leader of the ruling political party
Shataf Figar as Alex
Chandan Sen as film producer.
Shantilal Mukherjee as the editor of a popular newspaper
Kanchan Mullick as Bhuto, a side role actor
Debolina Dutta as Mokkhoda aka Motibai, an widow daner ghost who later become feminist
Swastika Mukherjee in a guest appearance as ghost of Batabibala
Rimjhim Mitra as a Ghost of an Singer
Moon Moon Sen in a guest appearance as Madam Jessica aka Miss J, an Anglo-Indian dance trainer
Kharaj Mukherjee in a guest appearance as Bishtu Mondal
Rachel White as lead dancer in opening credit scenes
Siddhartha Chatterjee as an organizer of Ghost-walk
Badshah Maitra as Director Khonik
Arunava Dutta as Biru, Production Manager
Reshmi Sen as Sangeeta Sur, a ghost of Rabindra Sangeet artist
Deboprasad Halder as assistant director
Sumanta Mukherjee as Samyabrata Sarkar, the ghost of a left-wing party worker.
Amit Saha as Bholanath Khara, an anti-social ghost who once used to be an artist.
Sourav Chakraborty as Satyajit, a freelance investigating journalist
Sumit Samaddar in a guest appearance
Sibaji Bandopadhay as ghost-expert Nidhiram Banerjee aka Nidhu-babu
Pradip Mitra as an organizer of Ghost-walk
Sanjay Biswas in a guest appearance

Controversy

Right after the release, the film was removed from different theatres in Kolkata. The de facto ban was accordingly criticised as "fascist", "condemnable", "extremely undemocratic", and as an "infringement on one’s fundamental right to view a film". Other scholars and commentators termed the de facto ban "clearly unconstitutional" and in violation of Indian Supreme Court precedents, and an example of "liberal hypocrisy". When asked about the incident, Banerjee told the press: "I will not answer. Don’t ask me this question." Various processions and marches have been carried out to protest against the ban. A writ petition against the ban has been filed before the Calcutta High Court by film enthusiasts. The Supreme Court ordered the West Bengal government to pay compensation of Rs 20 lakh to Kalyanmoy Billy Chatterjee, producer of the film Bhobishyoter Bhoot, for imposing a “virtual ban” on the screening of the movie. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on the Mamata Banerjee-led government, "Free speech cannot be gagged for fear of the mob", the court said. It expressed concern over "growing intolerance" in society against artistic freedom.