KOLKATA: A school in South Kolkata was forced to halt the screening of renowned director Ritwik Ghatak’s two films, ‘Aamar Lenin’ (My Lenin) and ‘Komal Gandhar’, after a TMC councillor raised objections to them.
‘Aamar Lenin’ was a film made in the year 1970 to commemorate the birth of Vladimir Lenin. However, issues arose with the National Film Censorship Board of India, which banned the movie. Ghatak personally met with Indira Gandhi on this matter.
The title of the other film, ‘Komal Gandhar’, refers to the Hindustani equivalent. It was part of the trilogy composed of ‘Meghe Dhaka Tara’ in 1960.
‘Komal Gandhar’ and ‘Subarnarekha’ (1962) both deal with the aftermath of thePartition in 1947, though this was his most optimistic film.
The film explores three themes: the dilemma of the lead character, Anusuya, the divided leadership of IPTA, and the fallout from the Partition.
On February 10, the authorities of Naktala High School decided to screen the two films as part of Ghatak’s birth centenary celebration. After consulting all the teachers and staff, the school authorities made posters announcing the screening in the locality. However, on February 5, the local councillor visited the school and asked the authorities to drop the plan as it would create controversy.
Sources in the school said the headmaster initially refused to budge but later relented after receiving threats from the local TMC authorities.
No show of ‘My Lenin’ and ‘Komal Gandhar’
School authorities decided to screen two films — ‘Aamar Lenin’ (My Lenin) and ‘Komal Gandhar’ — as part of Ritwik Ghatak’s birth centenary celebration on February 10. However, on February 5, the TMC councillor asked the authorities to drop the plan, as it would “create immense controversy” in the locality.