Anik Dutta’s Bhobishyoter Bhoot will be released again on Friday 5 April across Bengal after the Supreme Court directed the state government to lift all curbs, official or otherwise, on the film.
The producers have already issued showtimes for screenings of the film across various districts of the state. The film will also be released in Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi soon.
The satirical spoof was withdrawn from 44 theatres within a day of its release on 16 February, despite having been passed with a ‘U/A’ certificate by the Central Board of Film Certification.
Bhobishyoter Bhoot review: Despite some lengthy passages, this is an important film
When the film’s producers and members of the cast and crew sought to know from theatre managements why the film had been suddenly withdrawn when it was attracting crowds, they were told there were instructions from a ‘higher authority’.
Artistes and intellectuals took to the streets in Kolkata and staged protests demanding that screenings be resumed. The Supreme Court, in an interim order, told the state’s chief secretary and principal secretary (home) to lift any restraints on public screening of the film in theatres.
Bhobishyoter Bhoot criticizes the political set-ups in both the state and the Centre, which, according to the director, caused discomfort to the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal led by Mamata Banerjee and hence the unofficial ban.
The film has been running to houseful shows in various cities in the USA as well as in Sweden, The Netherlands and Australia.