West Bengal Pushes for Bengali Cinema to Share Limelight in Theaters

The West Bengal government is set to prioritize Bengali films in cinema halls as part of its initiative to boost the regional film industry, announced senior minister Aroop Biswas after conferring with key industry figures, including producers and distributors.

This decision comes amidst growing concerns about preserving Bengali identity, with the Trinamool Congress highlighting alleged harassment of Bengali-speaking migrants in BJP-governed states. Minister Biswas emphasized the importance of giving Bengali films equal prominence alongside Hindi and English movies.

While some critical decisions remain confidential, the initiative aligns with the 'Bhasha Andolan' led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The strategy supports equitable show times for Bengali films, as demonstrated by actor-MP Dev's forthcoming release 'Dhumketu,' set to coincide with a major Bollywood release.

(With inputs from agencies.)