Movie 'inspired' by Mamata Banerjee planned for release in poll time

Kolkata Even as controversy continues to rage over the Modi biopic a movie inspired by the life of Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is planned for release early next month in the midst of Lok Sabha electionsThe Bengali film titled Baghini Bengal Tigress has the story of an ordinary girls rise to the position of a Chief Minister after overcoming the struggles against the political forces opposing her along her lifes journeyThis is a striking similarity with Banerjees life who struggled hard against the Left Front rule in West Bengal and wrested power in 2011 by dislodging the Communist government after 30 yearsIts makers said the film originally planned to be released ahead of the 2016 state assembly polls will now hit the screens on May 3 three days ahead of the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections in West BengalWith the CPIM and the BJP opposing its release the makers of the movie insist that it is not a biopic as name of the protagonist played by threatre actor Ruma Chakraborty is Indira BanerjeeThey describe it as a story of womens empowerment deeply inspired by BanerjeeA controversy is going on over a piece of fake news that the film is a Banerjee biopic If it really were a biopic we could have named it as CM Mamata Banerjee in line with the Modi biopic That would have been more advantageous for us But this is a story of women empowerment You can say it is deeply inspired by our CM director Nehal Dutta told IANSProducer Pinky Pal who is also the films scriptwriter said the timing of the release is purely coincidental as they received the censor board clearance just a few days backThough the shooting was completed in 2016 certain parts of post production especially graphics had to be reworked So we completed it I also suffered a personal loss during that time so the release had to be deferred But after we got the clearance from the censor board with a Universal certification we decided to release it Pal saidPal said the midbudget film is set to hit the screens and multiplexes across Bengal on the scheduled day as they have yet no received any intimation from the EC regarding delaying the releaseWith teasers of the movie already out CPIM has raised the red banner against the movie saying it is a Mamata Banerjee biopicThe Left party has submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission seeking a stay on its release till the elections get overThe BJP also has moved the poll panel seeking a review of the film on the similar lines that was done by the Election Commission in case of a biopic depicting Narendra ModiThe release of the Modi biopic has been put on hold after there were protests against itSome petitioners approached the Supreme Court which asked the Election Commission to watch the movie and take a call on its releaseDutta while describing himself and Pinky Pal as diehard fans of the Trinamool Congress supremo said As the story is based in Bengal it is natural that we have drawn inspiration from Banerjee She is an iconic figure not just in Bengal but across the country Had we made the film in Uttar Pradesh or Tamil Nadu may be Mayawati or Jayalalitha would have been our inspirationDutta said though the films narrative refers to some iconic moments of Banerjees political career like the Singur and Nandigram land agitationd it does not contain anything that can hurt the sentiments of a party or an individualCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get the latest updates