Bhobishyoter Bhoot Haunted Mamata Banerjee

Bhobishyoter Bhoot, directed by Anik Dutta, pegged as a political satire, was unofficially 'banned' from the screens on 15 February, as buzz swirled about orders received from 'higher-ups' about a possible 'law and order' threat that the film presented, the film had become a flashpoint for debate over artistic freedom in West Bengal.

At one point it seemed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her government, that had been officially 'silent' on the issue, was about to lose a share of the prestige support she had once commanded artistic community, among the Dadasaheb Phalke award recipient, veteran actor Soumitra Chatterjee - who had famously turned down public overtures by the BJP -was part of the protest that erupted in Kolkata against the 'shadow ban' on Bhobishyoter Bhoot.

Over two hours of screen time past, the predominantly geriatric audiences at a popular multiplex (at forty-three, this correspondent was possibly the youngest out there) hobbled out of the theatre looking exhausted. Some had even dozed off during the interval, waking up only to discuss how the filmmaker had "not spared anyone". That's exactly as far as the controversy would take the film.