Chhobiwala to be screened for free as tribute to Rahul Arunoday Banerjee

Rahul Arunday Banerjee’s untimely death is still being mourned by the Bengali film industry. Makers of one of his last theatrical projects, Chhobiwala have announced a special non-commercial initiative to honour the late actor’s memory, amidst the atmosphere of grief. The production team has decided to screen the movie for the audience free of cost, making this release a tribute rather than a business venture. In order to make this possible, the makers are seeking cooperation from theatre owners across the state, so that the film reaches the audience without having them pay for tickets.

Rahul plays the central role in this film, making this emotionally significant. He plays the role of an artiste who spends his entire life searching for recognition, only to receive it after his death. The parallel between the film’s narrative and the actor's real-life legacy has deeply affected the team behind the project. Directed by Subhra Jyoti, the film was originally titled Negative and it was later renamed as Chhobiwala following Rahul’s demise. Being closely associated with Rahul Banerjee, the production chose this title as a respect to the free spirit of a true artiste. The release is viewed as a heartfelt homage so that he continues to live among the audience with his work. As Tollywood struggles to return to normalcy after the loss, Chhobiwala stands as a symbolic effort to celebrate an artiste’s life through cinema.

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