Overview

• Anirban Bhattacharya’s latest music video shoot at Jogesh Mime Academy in south Kolkata was cancelled for the second time in a fortnight after technicians confirmed availability but did not turn up.
• Bhattacharya and 13 other independent directors have a writ petition pending before the Calcutta High Court, which ruled in April that filmmakers are free to hire any technicians without obstruction.
• Technicians who initially agreed to participate later backed out or went incommunicado, with some citing fears of repercussions if they worked on projects challenging the federation’s authority.
• Federation of Cine Technicians and Workers of Eastern India head Swarup Biswas says the guild was unaware of Bhattacharya’s shoot and has not issued any non-cooperation directive.
• Tollywood production has plunged from about 250 Bengali films a year to roughly 25 amid recurring shoot cancellations, intensifying calls for government mediation and formal dialogue sessions.