After discussions, Artists’ Forum President Ranjit Mallick and Executive President Prosenjit Chatterjee announced the end of their indefinite strike. They decided that artists and technicians would not collaborate with the production company Magic Moments for now due to the tragic death of actor Rahul Arunoday Banerjee during outdoor shooting in Odisha’s Talsari. The safety of artists and crew during shooting was a key concern during the meeting attended by various actors and directors.
The sudden demise of Rahul Arunoday Banerjee on March 29 raised questions as he was shooting for a television series produced by Magic Moments in Talsari. The company, led by Leena Gangopadhyay, also Chairperson of the West Bengal Women’s Commission, faced scrutiny after the actor’s drowning in Talsari. The Odisha Police revealed that the production company had not obtained necessary permissions.
Following these revelations, the Artists’ Forum sought legal advice and clarification from Magic Moments regarding Rahul’s death. When unsatisfied with the response, artists, including Forum editor Shantilal Mukherjee, filed a case against the company. Subsequently, Rahul’s wife, Priyanka Sarkar, lodged a complaint against Magic Moments and several individuals at Talsari Police Station. The Artists’ Forum initiated an indefinite strike, which has now been lifted.
A standard operating procedure (SOP) will be developed within fifteen to thirty days to enhance industry security measures. Prosenjit emphasized that artists would not collaborate with those responsible for Rahul’s death or with anyone associated with Magic Moments. The ban on working with the company remains, with a promise to lift it within 72 hours for affected artists and directors.
