Former TMC leader makes movie on Left, Oppn smells comeback plan

Sidelined Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and former President of TMCP, the students' wing of TMC, Shankudeb Panda has turned film director with his debut film on the Left regime.

Titled Comrade... Bengal's Red Past, the film is based on the Left Front's rule on West Bengal for 34 years, and focuses on the Singur-Nandigram episode which marked the end of the Left rule in the state.

Panda, one of the accused in the Narada sting operation, was kept away from party activities after he was found in the Narada tapes, in March 2016. But after his oust, Panda, who was known for his proximity to CM Mamata Banerjee, went into oblivion for some time and has now resurfaced.

He said the film was released in London on July 8, and it drew a lot of accolades. "Curiosity would be the USP of the film before its release here," he added.

Panda, however, did not want to respond to what his position was in the party, post the Narada issue. "I am not going to reply to any question over a subjudice matter," he said.

The film will release in India on July 21, which is also observed as Martyrs' Day by the TMC. The party has planned a gathering at Esplanade in central Kolkata in the memory of the 13 people who were shot dead on this day in 1993, when police opened fire on a rally of the Youth Congress, demanding voters' ID to be made a mandatory document for voting.

"The day of the release will have no morning or noon show. It will kick off with an evening show around 4 pm to avoid it from clashing with the party's programme in the afternoon where the CM will be the main speaker," Panda added. He also said that there was not much of a trouble with the Censor Board for getting a certification for the film.

"In the initial talks we have been suggested some cuts, which we are okay with," he said.

Left leaders said that it was an attempt of the tainted leader to return to politics. "We know the character and activities of Panda. He had been made the TMCP President and later the party General Secretary before being thrown out of the party. If he is making a film on the Left regime and wants to release it on July 21, it is obvious that he will want to malign the Left Front to please Mamata and make a comeback into the party," said senior CPIM leader Rabin Deb, talking to DNA.

Tollywood actor Kharaj Mukherjee plays the lead role in the film along with Mainak Banerjee, Ena Saha, Bhaswar Chatterjee, Moubani Sorcar and Anindya Sarkar. The film has been shot at several locations in north and south Bengal including Garhbeta, Singur and Kolkata.