প্রাক্তনী রাহুলের শেষ ছবির অংশ দেখল নাকতলা হাইস্কুল

Naktala High School hosts the premiere of Rahul Banerjee’s final performance

Naktala High School Screenings and the Actor’s Legacy

In the lead-up to the official release of Chobiwala, director Bappa Basak has organized a series of promotional events, including a recent screening of film segments at Naktala High School. The school holds particular significance as the alma mater of the late actor, Rahul Banerjee. According to reporting, these events are not intended as traditional trailer launches, but rather as an effort to honor the actor’s final performance by sharing his work directly with his former community. Bappa Basak stated, This was not a trailer screening of the film. This is Rahul Arunoday’s last film as a hero. We went to Naktala High School just to convey the news of the former student’s acting in the role of the hero.

Basak and his team previously hosted a similar event at a blood donation camp in Bijoygarh’s Niranjan Sadan, which was the actor’s neighborhood, to share the news of his final acting performance with local residents. The director noted a poignant, almost coincidental overlap between the film’s narrative and the actor’s own life. In Chobiwala, Banerjee portrays a struggling still photographer who finds professional recognition only after he dies by drowning. While the actor’s real-life passing was not a suicide, the thematic parallels have resonated deeply with those who knew him, including his co-star in the film, Debolina Dutta, who was also present at the Naktala High School event.

Bappa Basak explores the dark narrative of a photographer in Chobiwala

Plot and Production Context of Chobiwala

The film, originally titled Negative before being renamed to honor the lead actor, follows the journey of a photographer named Bishwakarma. The character spends his life chasing professional validation, which leads to a strained marriage and a desperate search for the “perfect” subject. The plot thickens when the protagonist is told that to become a great photographer, he must capture the image of someone who is dying or has embraced death.

This pursuit leads the character to visit red-light districts and track individuals contemplating suicide or suffering from severe illness. The narrative serves as a reflection on the actor’s own career, which was characterized by a persistent, resilient drive to overcome failure. Beyond the lead performances, the film features Sreelekha Mitra, who appears in an item song, and Rimi Deb, who plays a significant role in the film and is also associated with the production company. The film’s musical score features songs by Rupam Islam, Jojo Mukherjee, and Somlata Acharyya.

Sreelekha Mitra objects to the posthumous marketing of Rahul Banerjee

Public Discourse on Posthumous Promotion

The visibility of Chobiwala has surfaced a public debate concerning the marketing of projects involving deceased actors. Recently, actress Sreelekha Mitra commented on the practice, stating, Rahul will remain among us all. But do not use a dead person. Let his artistic soul remain, that is all I want, but the way he is being used for every movie, please do not do that. Please be a little honest with yourself.

Debolina Dutta defends her promotional efforts for the late actor

Debolina Dutta, who has been seen at recent premieres wearing a saree belonging to Banerjee’s mother, issued a sharp response to these criticisms. Without naming Mitra directly, Dutta questioned whether those criticizing the promotional efforts had engaged with the actor’s surviving family. Have those who said this ever gone to Rahul’s house? Have they ever talked to his mother or brother? Have they seen how his little four-legged friend is doing now? Do they want to know what Sahaj wants? What Priyanka wants? Rahul’s entire family wants Rahul to live on among everyone like this. We should talk about Rahul so that he is not lost.

Dutta further emphasized her commitment to his body of work, stating, A man who acted in the title role of a film—it cannot be that I will not mention his name just because he is not physically present. I cannot say that I only acted in this film. That would be a lie. I will talk about an immensely talented man who is not with us 100 times, a thousand times. Dutta noted that there are plans to work with Banerjee’s writings in the future, ensuring his name remains active, concluding, Let the critics be happy with their criticism; we will be happy by doing our work.