Pratyusha Banerjee film out despite court order

Mumbai: The Dindoshi city civil and sessions court on Saturday extended the stay on the screening of Hum Kuch Keh Na Sakey, a short film featuring late TV actor Pratyusha Banerjee. Meanwhile, the makers of the film, were disallowed from screening the film at a club where it was to be shown. However, they claimed they have released the film online.

Pratyusha’s ex-boyfriend Rahul Raj Singh had approached the court seeking a stay on the film’s release. Rahul’s lawyer Sneha Singh on Saturday informed the court that the film’s producer Kamya Punjabi had not received any notice regarding the stay order. “She (Ms Punjabi) is making statements before the media that she will release the movie at any cost,” Ms Singh said.

Ms Singh argued, “My clerk went her house but her watchman did not allow him to serve her the notice. The watchman had told the clerk that ‘madam has told him not to receive any courier or letter’.”

Ms Singh further said that Ms Punjabi in a recent newspaper interview said she wanted to link real life with reel life. “Rahul has not been convicted by court and suicide case trial has yet to begin, but the film is maligning his image,” she said.

The judge, S.C. Khati, asked why the petitioner (Rahul) had not served a notice to the respondent at the place where film release was held. Ms Singh said even that that time the respondent had refused to accept the notice.

The court then extended stay on the film till the April 4 and directed the court bailiff to serve the notice to the respondent.

Shreyansh Meethare, another lawyer of Rahul’s, said that in the film had a negative character named Rahul.

Rahul, who was present in the court, was pleased with the extension of the stay. Speaking to The Asian Age, he said, “The truth will never change; it will remain forever. If these people are true, they should have remained present before the court”

Meanwhile, Ms Punjabi and Pratyusha’s parents held a press conference to screen and release the movie in the actor’s memory at County Club, Andheri. While they did not screen the movie, they released it on YouTube.

Ms Punjabi said, “We wanted to hold a public screening of the movie, but the club refused to let us do so. They said that they are scared of the police. But we are not, hence we have released the movie on YouTube for all to watch.”

Pratyusha’s mother Soma Banerjee said, “I am very proud of my daughter. The movie does justice to her acting.” She added that Rahul Raj Singh had killed Pratyusha and is hence scared of the movie being released