Bengal theatre artist joins BJP, loses his role in play

KOLKATA: The decision to drop theatre artist Koushik Kar from performing in Saurav Palodhi’s adaptation of Utpal Dutt’s ‘Ghum Nei’ after the actor joined BJP has left the cultural circles in Bengal divided.
While many have supported this decision, some said the move smacked of intolerance. According to Palodhi, Kar’s current political affiliation is reason enough to drop him.In 2019, Kar was invited by Palodhi’s group, Ichheymoto, to play a character in ‘Ghum Nei’.
“While adapting Dutt’s play, Koushik and I had created his character and named him Akhlaq. The name had a reference to the 2015 Dadri case where a mob had attacked the home of Md Akhlaq, killing him on suspicion of eating beef. Allowing someone to play Akhlaq after joining BJP will be attacking the soul of the play,” said Palodhi.
He has no qualms if he is called ‘intolerant’ because of his stand. Kar, however, refuses to take any credit for writing the character of Akhlaq.
“Saurav is hiding his folly by making such statements. Few Leftists who move between Dharmatala and Brigade and hyperventilate on Facebook are trying to control theatre. They have no grassroots connect. Dropping me or barring me from staging a play is only exposing the insecurity of elites who don’t even understand the essence of communism,” Kar said.
He added that the entire episode exposes the “myopia of theatre professionals” and “Left-wing Fascism”. While director-actor Debesh Chattopadhyay has lent his support to Palodhi on Facebook, director Kamaleswar Mukherjee hasn’t agreed, insisting that his “casting never depends on the individual’s political colour”. Supporting Palodhi, actor Riddhi Sen described this as an “individual’s choice”.
Actor-turned BJP functionary Kanchana Moitra said: “This is sheer intolerance.”