TMC is Planning Biopic on Chairperson Mamata Banerjee

5^th December 2021: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) is planning to create a biopic of Chairperson Mamata Banerjee. The TMC aims to develop a pan-India appeal for the party and its supremo right before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. To plan this mega project, the TMC has started shortlisting a handful of internationally acclaimed Bengali filmmakers, and discussions are in the initial stage at the moment.

An anonymous senior party leader stated that the TMC wants people to know about how Mamata Banerjee emerged gradually as a strong leader. The party wants to showcase her pan-India image through the newly planned documentary, as she already has gained a positive public perception about her from people in India. The TMC is also thinking of changing the names of the party constitution and the party itself in the biopic for achieving a pan-India appeal.

The biopic is expected to highlight Mamata Banerjee’s contributions to the country’s progress as the Union Railway Minister, her lifestyle, and her journey in politics. It would also include some of the most significant works done in West Bengal as the state Chief Minister in the last ten years, as well as her presence in other states of India. At the same time, the biopic is anticipated to exhibit the way she is continuing to develop ties with opposition leaders for building a united front in the next general elections against the BJP.

As per a few sources, the biopic will be released in all 22 constitutionally recognized regional languages across the country. It will not be constricted to only Bengali, Hindi, and English. The TMC is planning to show the biopic to people in every region once it is ready, through smaller TV channels having mass connect, as well as collaborate with popular OTT platforms for maximum reach.

Mamata Banerjee is well-known to take a keen interest in literature and art. Over the last few years, she has written more than hundred books, composed songs, and penned poems in both English and Bengali. Her work has been released across the country, especially in West Bengal during book fairs. In 2021, her memoir called ‘Mamata Banerjee: My Unforgettable Memories’ was released. Similarly, her work was translated into the script for Santhali language known as Ol Chiki.

Baghini

However, the Election Commission of India had removed the trailer of a film named Baghini, right before the Lok Sabha elections in April 2019. The film was directed by Bijoy Bose and it was inspired by the life of Mamata Banerjee. But, the TMC is planning to produce her biopic for the first time ever to showcase her achievements to those living outside West Bengal and help her communicate efficiently with people across the country. 

Many opposition parties, on the other hand, have ridiculed the news of this planned biopic. Some of them have even called this idea a mere effort to develop a ‘larger-than-life’ image of their leader. Rahul Sinha, the BJP leader, mentioned that Mamata Banerjee should take up acting as her profession and give up her position of Chief Minister. He further stated that not many people will watch this biopic as the party has no power outside West Bengal and no one outside the state is eager to know about the TMC leader. 

Furthermore, the TMC declared that it is planning to change the party’s name in the biopic as it wants to create a film that would have a robust national appeal. It wants to come up with a name that would remain true to the party’s identity. Discussions are being held among the part members on various ways to make the party name shorter, though registered as the All India Trinamool Congress with the Election Commission of India (ECI). One of the suggestions received by the party is to drop the term ‘Congress’ from the name. But, no conclusion has been received so far.