Fire Pours Water on Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne Return Plans

RBN Web Desk: It seems the recent fire at Priya Cinema, one of the leading single-screen theatres in eastern India, has caused more damage than to the theatre itself. More than two weeks since the incident, the prominent south Kolkata theatre is yet to reopen, after the West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services (WBFES) ordered a temporary closure until the completion of investigation and the receipt of no-objection certificates (NOCs) from the relevant authorities that include Kolkata Police and Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation.

The fire reportedly broke out from a short circuit at a food stall located inside the theatre during a late night show on 5 August. The hall didn’t suffer any damage per se and there were no casualties or injuries.

Sources, however, claim that the incident has now put the Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne return plan on the backburner.

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Priya Cinema is owned and operated by Arijit Dutta, the grandson of Nepal Dutta who produced the cult 1969 film directed by Satyajit Ray. Arijit is currently the copyright owner of the Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne film franchise. Director Anindya Chatterjee reportedly had several rounds of talks with Arijit on making the fourth instalment of the series with a target of releasing it in 2019, the golden jubilee year of the first film. Arijit was supposed to be a co-producer of the project but would now have to channel his funds towards the renovation of the cinema hall.

Now with no certainty on when Priya Cinema will lift its shutters, the project is likely to be delayed beyond this year, sources said.

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It has been learnt that WBFES has suggested some changes in the floor plan of the cinema hall. An inspection will be carried out after the changes are incorporated, following which the fire department is likely to take a call on when the theatre may be reopened.

The fourth film in the Goopy Gyne Bagha Series, under such circumstances, may be a non-starter this year.