Exclusive! Indraadip Dasgupta on #BoycottBismillah call: Producer and I will talk and decide if we want to book the hatemongers

Indraadip Dasgupta’s Bismillah was released on August 19 and soon after that several actors, including Riddhi Sen and Debopratimm Dasgupta, were trolled on social media. A group of social media mobs has also called to boycott the film. 

Riddhi posted a photo on his social media profile to announce the release of the film. Debopratimm congratulated the actor for his performance in the film on that thread, which then was taken over by a group of trolls. 

Bismillah is a film on a syncretic culture where music transcends religious and social barriers. Indraadip takes great care to portray a Bengali Muslim household in rural Bengal. Also, he shows how such a family upholds the tradition of Indian classical music, which essentially is a storehouse of harmony. While talking to us about the ongoing chaos, he said, “I don’t believe that a boycott call on a film can impact its business. If people like the film, they will watch it. However, the call for a boycott is mindless. If every single film is called to boycott then there will be no freedom for artists.”

Meanwhile, he strongly denounced the hatemongers. “I will talk to my producer and decide if we lodge a police complaint at the Cyber Cell or we stage a protest against these trolls. Most of them operate under fake profiles. I am a proud Indian. I am also a disciple of Krishna. My country and my guru have taught me to love people. I am a greater patriot than these trolls. It is me who has done Bharat Bhagya Bidhata for Srijit Mukherji’s Rajkahini. Idle man’s brain is a devil’s workshop. It will grow further if we tolerate it. Social media is turning into a gutter,” he said. 

Talking about the response, Indraadip said that the film has been getting a mixed response. “The weather is against us. However, the footfall went up today. Also, people are getting their daily dose of gossip from all the political drama that is going on in the news channels every day.” said the director.