‘How many films he has worked in till date?’, asks Filmmaker Aparna Sen regarding the Federation presidency of Swaroop Biswas

News Mania Desk /Sohom Chatterjee/1st October 2024

The BengalI entertainment industry, Tollywood, has been facing dilemma and controversies in the light of the recent RG Kar rape-murder case. Tollywood is breaking silence by voicing out the workplace harassment stories and calling out the sexual offenders.

The recent incident of suicide attempt by a well-known hairdresser has prompted the industry to pick sides. She also recorded a voice clip where she mentioned names of 11 people who have been allegedly responsible for her being deprived of work for months before thinking of taking the rash decision.

Amid all the chatter, famous director Aparna Sen has voiced her opinion. Writing on her social media, Aparna Sen questioned the legitimacy of Swaroop Biswas, the president of the Federation of Cine Technicians and Workers of Eastern India (FCTWEI), who is the brother of state minister Arup Biswas. She wrote, “First question, is Shri Swaroop Biswas a technician in the film and television industry? If not, how can he continue to be the president of this industry’s federation just because he is a party member of TMC? I heard that he has an assistant director’s card. But as far as I know, an assistant director card is not available unless you have worked as an observer in at least two films.” Sen further asked, “Second question, what are the names of the two films in which he worked as an observer? Third question, how many films has he worked till date since getting his assistant director card, and what are the names of the films? I heard that if you do not work as an assistant in a film within 13 months of getting the assistant director card, the assistant card is rejected. If this is true, and if he has not acted in any film within 13 years, has his card been rejected?”

She concluded her comment by saying, “As the senior-most film director in the industry, I can certainly expect the Assistant Directors Guild to answer these questions? It is not my intention to blame anyone. The questions that came to my mind, I am just asking for answers.”

Swaroop Biswas, hasn’t responded yet to the questions raised by Aparna Sen but has informed that he would do so via social media as Sen had chosen the same medium to pose the questions.