The Tollywood (Kolkata film industry) fraternity has called for an immediate halt to dubbing Hindi films and telly soaps in Bangla.
The call by the Bangla film industry comes in the wake of dubbed versions of Yash Raj Film production Gunday releasing simultaneously in Hindi and Bangla in the state.
The film was shot extensively in the city and other parts of West Bengal and has the star cast of Ranveer Singh and Priyanka Chopra capturing the flavour of the state in the 1970s and 1980s.
Bangla film superstar Prosenjit Chatterjee said: “We have nothing personal against any producers. In fact we have high regard for legendary producer-directors like late Yashji. But as Bangla film industry is poised for a turnaround with audiences returning to the theatres again, any cinematic work dubbed in the language and screened will create an unfair situation. Our gentle request is please stop this. I would have talked to Yashji about this had he been around. If any artiste from here still wishes to be part of any such dubbing venture we will be forced to boycott him/her.”
Celebrated actor Parambrata Chatterjee of Kahaani fame said: “We are not issuing any threat to anybody. But the local industry has its stake. This is our united stand and we mean it.”
Big ticket producers Srikant Mohta of Shree Venkatesh films said: “At a time when Tollywood films are attracting good audience response due to content and quality we have to work for saving this limited market.”