Will end hooligan raj in Tolly: MLA after CM call

Kolkata: Shibpur MLA Rudranil Ghosh spoke to chief minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday and discussed ways to rein in hooligan raj in Tollywood. The actor – who was the biggest casualty of Tollywood's ban culture, having been dropped unceremoniously from project and left with almost no work in the film industry during the tenure of the previous govt – is not on a revenge mode. But those who created an unhealthy work atmosphere in Tollywood have been identified, with strict instructions on action against any disruptive force.The Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) will continue to be held this year too, he said. "There is no room for worrying about it. In Goa, IFFI is held year after year. Rudranil Ghosh's ‘The Academy of Fine Arts' doesn't get screened there, but many films made by artists supporting TMC have," Ghosh said.An impartial investigation will be done to unearth actor Rahul Banerjee's demise too. "Law will take its own course, but it is important to identify all those whose indifference made us lose our brother. I have spoken to everyone about his case. Despite being a strong Leftist, Rahul was my junior co-actor and friend. I have seen how attempts were made to save those close to the earlier ruling dispensation in his case. This isn't a planned murder, but the indifference towards a dead artist hit us hard," he said.According to him, Adhikari is well aware of the goings-on in the culture world and the "complete lawlessness in Tollywood". "The state govt is keeping a close watch on it too. On Monday, we spoke about this issue. The process that the previous govt used to harm the culture world by creating strange committees to ‘develop' the audio-visual media will be reviewed. The whole of India is aware of the strategy used by the earlier dispensation to implement exploitative guidelines. A watch is being kept on anyone trying to boss or do ‘mafiagiri' in the industry. All autocratic practices will be dissolved," Ghosh said.According to Ghosh, the system of imposing a certain number of technicians has been abolished under the new regime. "We have seen how the industry has suffered from all the wrongs committed by a few who turned into mafias because of the indulgence of the previous govt. Investors have fled from Tollywood. The yearly number of films produced in Tollywood dropped from over 130 to 30. Crews from abroad or other parts of India used to shoot films and ads in our state regularly. All that shrunk because of the autocratic norms. The casualty was Bengal's coffers and the job opportunities of artists and technicians. ‘Tolabaji' will not be tolerated. Cops will be called to take action if there is any grievance in Tollywood," he said.He recalled how celebs who spoke out during the RG Kar movement were targeted. "They were pressurised to post on social media. It was all done under the instruction of the previous chief minister since she oversaw the culture world. She was behind those small fries in the industry who acted as her sub-agents to do the dirty job," he said.Will these "sub agents" be penalised now? "They have advertised their identity long back. I do not categorise everyone in the same bracket. A section of artists could never protest because the former govt didn't create that environment. The BJP govt will not take any revenge, but we want to identify them. We do not believe that everyone has to be a BJP supporter. A deserving person will get to work. If required, he can apologise to his colleagues for the bad behaviour. For the sake of their family, work and protection, many artists who didn't support these malpractices were forced to stand and pose for photos with those who looted rice, wheat and coal. They were made to stand beside those who looted the coffers so that the disgust of people against them will be cleansed."Despite the beeline of celebs wanting to hug him, Ghosh has not forgotten how they never uttered a word when he was being sidelined. "I know the ‘bohurupis' who avoided me, dropped my name from their invitation lists or stayed silent then. I was the biggest target since I spoke against Tollywood's hooliganism. I was blacklisted and had to sell off my house and car. Technicians were made to wear black badges and walk in a ‘michil' against me from Technicians' Studio to the Uttam Kumar statue. Those friends who remained silent then too were later humiliated. Had they all united and spoken up then to save the industry, they would not have to bow themselves in front of these hooligans who had the audacity to ban artists. All that will change," Ghosh said.