Technicians boycott Srijit Mukherji's shoot amid growing tensions between directors and Federation

The ongoing conflict between Bengali filmmakers and technicians has escalated with the boycott of director Srijit Mukherji’s shoot, bringing his production to a standstill. This follows a series of similar disruptions involving directors Rahul Mukhopadhyay, Joydeep Banerjee, and Kaushik Ganguly. Technicians, primarily responsible for setting up the shoots, have been absent for the past two days, halting the progress of Mukherji’s set. While initial reports suggested that the set was damaged, these claims have been clarified, and the delay is attributed to the technicians' absence, not to any physical damage.

The Federation of Cine Technicians and Workers of Eastern India (Federation) has been widely discussed as a possible influence behind the boycott. Filmmakers are concerned that the Federation is orchestrating these disruptions, particularly after a series of incidents in which technicians failed to attend their duties. As of now, Mukherji has not been formally informed of the specific accusations against him, which has led to uncertainty regarding the reasons behind the protest. This situation adds to growing concerns about the strained relationship between the Federation and the directors of the Bengali film industry.

Support for Mukherji has been voiced by industry figures, including directors Sudeshna Roy, Raj Chakraborty, and actor Parambrata Chattopadhyay. These individuals have expressed solidarity with Mukherji, as tensions rise within the industry. The Directors’ Guild has also come together to discuss the situation, seeking to find a resolution. Despite these efforts, no immediate solutions have been found, and the standoff continues. Many filmmakers are expressing frustration at the repeated disruptions, which have affected not only Mukherji’s set but also other productions in the region.

In July, when similar disruptions took place, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee intervened and instructed the formation of a special committee aimed at resolving issues related to film shootings. The committee’s goal was to prevent work stoppages and facilitate smoother operations for filmmakers. However, four months have passed since the committee's formation, and filmmakers have criticized the lack of concrete action or progress. As a result, there is growing concern that without an immediate resolution, the Bengali film and entertainment industry could face prolonged production delays or an indefinite halt, which would have a significant impact on film, serial, and web series projects.