Rahul Banerjee death: Prosenjit, Dev announce Tollywood boycott of ‘Magic Moments’

Kolkata: In a significant escalation of the ongoing controversy surrounding the death of Rahul Arunoday Banerjee, the Tollywood industry on Tuesday announced a collective decision to boycott ‘Magic Moments’ production house and all its associates until clarity emerges on the circumstances leading to the actor’s demise.

The development comes as part of a follow-up to a case that has remained under intense public and industry scrutiny since the incident first came to light over a week ago.

Despite the passage of nine days, the exact cause and sequence of events surrounding Banerjee’s death remain unclear, prompting strong reactions from the industry.

At a press conference convened by the Artists’ Forum later in the day, several leading figures of the Bengali film industry, including Prosenjit Chatterjee, Ranjit Mallick, Dev, Koel Mallick, Rituparna Sengupta, Jisshu Sengupta and others, formally announced a non-cooperation stance against the production house in question.

“We will not work with that production house or anyone associated with it until the truth is established, either publicly or through due legal process,” Prosenjit said, underlining the industry’s demand for accountability and transparency. He further described the development as a “collective family decision,” emphasising the emotional impact of the loss on the fraternity.

Ranjit Mallick, who returned to Kolkata earlier in the day, echoed similar sentiments, stating that it would not be possible for the industry to collaborate with those linked to the incident until a clear account of events is made available.

The announcement follows a day-long work stoppage observed by the Artists’ Forum as a mark of protest.

However, the strike has since been withdrawn, with the industry set to resume normal shooting schedules across television and film projects from Wednesday. The boycott, however, will remain in force.

Actor Dev, addressing the media, said the industry generally refrains from endorsing a culture of bans or non-cooperation.

“However, the gravity of the situation cannot be ignored. Until the concerned parties establish their position, we will remain in non-cooperation with them,” he said. He also indicated that previously imposed bans on certain artists would be lifted within 72 hours, signalling a parallel effort to restore normalcy within the industry.

Banerjee’s wife, Priyanka Sarkar, was present at the closed-door meeting but did not address the media.

Sources indicated that discussions also focused on broader systemic concerns, including on-set safety protocols and insurance coverage for artists and technicians.

Swaroop Biswas stated that long-pending issues related to worker safety have now gained urgency in light of the incident.

“We are working towards resolving key concerns within 15 days, and insurance provisions will be ensured within 30 days,” he said.

The case continues to be under legal and investigative purview, with industry stakeholders reiterating that their stance will remain unchanged until definitive findings are made public.

The developments mark a critical turning point in an issue that has triggered both emotional and structural responses within Tollywood.