Film with TMC netas to tell story of Calcutta University official Manisha Mukhopadhyay, who vanished like 'karpoor' in CPM era

KOLKATA: One of Bengal's enduring "political" mysteries - the 1997 disappearance of a senior Calcutta University official believed to have been close to seniors in the erstwhile Left Front regime - is going to come alive on silver screen, with several senior netas from other side of the political spectrum playing pivotal roles.The storyline of the film 'Karpoor (Camphor)' revolves around the sudden disappearance of CU assistant controller of examinations Manisha Mukhopadhyay in Sept 1997. She left behind an elderly mother, who kept looking for her before giving up. Mukhopadhyay's appointment to a key post in the state's biggest university, her "proximity" to frontline CPM netas some of whom survive till this day and her sudden disappearance - just like camphor (karpoor in Bengali) - came to be seen in academic and political circles as representing the total politicisation of the education sys-tem under the LF regime.Politicians - from the party now in office in Bengal - play key roles in the film, adding to the chatter around the film. Trinamool spokesperson Kunal Ghosh plays the all-powerful state CPM secretary, Anil Biswas, and state education minister Bratya Basu enacts the role of a former homicide section officer-in-charge posted at Lalbazar, the Kolkata Police headquarters. "The movie bears a resemblance with an interesting case.

The retired police officer recounts how he probed the case and the obstacles he faced," Basu said about his role.

Actor Saheb Chattopadhyay plays a character having "shades of" current LF chairman Biman Bose but TMC spokesperson Ghosh's performance as the soft-spoken, mild-mannered Biswas - credited for CPM's durability and its all-steamrolling "party machinery" - may be the most keenly watched. Ghosh has often expressed his admiration for Biswas's political acumen.'Crime thriller rooted in real political event' Different theories floated around Mukhopadhyay's disappearance with occasional reports of her being spotted in Nepal, Goa, and a temple near Purulia's Ayodhya Hills. The movie, based on Dipanwita Roy's novel 'Antardhaner Nepathye (Behind the Disappearance)', will trace the circumstances behind her disappearance and the probe," director Arindam Sil said.Eight months of research, involving documents, court papers and interviews, led Sil to believe the CU official left "the trail of a scam involving incredible amounts of cash".

Bundles of mark sheets were allegedly found at her home. A CPM veteran flagged her disappearance in 1997, the case was reopened in 1999, but then closed for lack of evidence amid allegations that some CPM seniors had "blocked the probe"."This is the time for idea- and concept-driven movies and this subject has several layers and unanswered questions," said producer Firdausul Hasan. "The Bengali audience's tastes have evolved with exposure to international films and diverse content, and 'Karpoor' - being a crime thriller rooted in a real political event - fits the bill.

Our approach will not sensationalize the subject. It will offer viewers a layered exploration of social, political and psychological complexities.

" CPM leaders differ. "It is a political ploy to tarnish the party's image. The case was shut long ago and the allegations were found to be baseless. Trinamool leaders should focus more on the current flaws in the system rather than dig up the past," said CPM veteran Rabin Deb.