On Thursday, the Calcutta High Court declined to halt the release of Diary of West Bengal, despite a plea alleging it contains communal undertones. Scroll down to read more.
The Diary of West Bengal, directed by Sanoj Mishra, is an upcoming political drama that has been raising eyebrows. The one-minute trailer created a stir among audiences upon its release. In a recent update, the Calcutta High Court on Thursday refused to halt the release of the movie despite a plea claiming the film contains communal undertones. The movie portrays events surrounding the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
A division bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya denied the request for urgent relief, stating, “Courts have repeatedly held that if you want to watch the movie, watch it; if you don’t, then don’t. We are in a democratic setup. Any healthy criticism is welcome. If those who are aggrieved come forward, let them approach us. West Bengal is a tolerant society… Where are we headed? If you want, we will admit it and keep it pending…”
The petitioner, who filed the petition to halt the film, claimed that certain scenes in the movie are communal in nature and could create a disturbing atmosphere in the state. Therefore, they argued that it would be better to halt the release of the film. However, the Court ruled that the movie’s release could not be stayed through a PIL in this manner and permitted it to proceed. The plea has been scheduled for further hearing in three weeks.
The Diary of West Bengal is set to hit the big screens on August 30, 2024. The movie features Arshin Mehta, Yajir Marwah, Gauri Shankar, Avadh Ashwini, Ronav Verma, and others in key roles.
