Indie Filmmakers Clash with Unions Over Censorship and Unpaid Dues

As of 2025-11-15T16:16:38+00:00, a recent controversy involving the censorship of an SRFTI student's feature film has ignited a debate among independent filmmakers in Kolkata. The student's film was barred from release due to objections from the Eastern India Motion Pictures' Association (EIMPA) and the Federation of Cine Technicians and Workers of Eastern India (FCTWEI).

This incident is seen by many as a potential turning point for the industry, especially with the increasing influence of AI, the use of high-end mobile cameras for filming, and the emergence of new online platforms for film distribution. The FCTWEI president, Swarup Biswas, clarified that the organization supports indie cinema as long as it is not used as a pretext to withhold payments due to technicians.

The dispute centers around a producer, Pramod Films, who allegedly failed to settle dues of Rs 12 lakh owed to technicians for the film "The Academy of Fine Arts." Biswas stated that the producer, Prateek Chakravorty, tried to "cheat our technicians in the garb of indie cinema for a film meant for commercial release." However, other Pramod Films productions, such as "Binodini" and "Lakkhikantopur Local," were able to release without any issues.

The SRFTI VC and head of the cinematography department, Samiran Datta, expressed concerns that overly strict rules may halt experimental work, while eliminating all rules may disadvantage many technicians. SRFTI teacher Pradipta Bhattacharya, whose film "Nadhorer Bhela" was the sole Indian entry at the 31st KIFF, highlighted the challenges of releasing films in Bengal without industry connections.