After Modi Biopic, Film on Mamata’s Life Draws Criticism

CPI(M) has written to the Election Commission seeking a stay on the release of the film.

A still from the movie trailer of Baghini-Bengal Tigress

(Photo: Youtube)

The Election Commission recently stalled the release of the PM Modi biopic before the elections, but already another biopic on a popular politician – Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee – is gearing up for release.

The film, titled Baghini - Bengal Tigress, has been cleared by the Censor Board and will release on 3 May, reported Business Today.

This comes despite the fact that the final phase of polling in West Bengal is on 7 and 12 May.

The film’s director, Nehal Dutta, and lead star Ruma Chakraborty argue that the film is not a biopic in its true sense.

Theatre actor Ruma Chakraborty, who portrays the titular role, told The Quint, “Our film is an inspiration, not a biopic.”

“Unlike Modi's film, ours is not a biopic. You can say we have been inspired by her (Mamata Banerjee). She is an iconic figure. It is an emotional story about women empowerment," Dutta told India Today.

‘Empowering Women, Not Propaganda,’ Says Film’s Producer and Screenwriter

"Be it Sarojini Naidu or a Jayalalitha, they have their own story to tell and it should inspire women all over the country," Pinky Pal, the screenwriter and producer of the movie, told India Today.

Despite the lead role of the film being inspired by a current popular politician, Pal stated that there was “no propaganda”. She added that the universal certificate received by the Censor Board was a testament to this.

CPI(M) Seeks Stay on Mamata Biopic

However, the CPI(M) has written to the Election Commission seeking a stay on the film’s release.

“Earlier, the Modi biopic was stopped by the commission. There is one more biopic on Mamata Banerjee, so we feel in all fairness that one should also not see the light of the day before elections are over,” party leader Nilotpal Basu told India Today on Monday, 15 April.

(With inputs from Business Today and India Today)