A Hindi film awaiting release has sparked controversy over its portrayal of Gopal Mukherjee, a renowned Bengali fighter who had a pivotal role in stopping the1946 riots and the atrocities on Hindus. Shantanu Mukherjee, Gopal’s grandson, has filed a police complaint against the film’s director, alleging that the movie distorts his grandfather’s identity.

The film’s trailer introduces Gopal Patha as “Ek Tha Kashai Gopal Patha”, which Shantanu claims is a misrepresentation of his grandfather’s character. Shantanu asserts that his grandfather was not a butcher by profession, but rather a wrestler and a key figure in the Anushilan Samiti, who played a crucial role in preventing Muslim League riots in 1946.

Shantanu has sent a legal notice to the director, demanding an apology for the alleged distortion of his grandfather’s character. He claims that the film’s portrayal is not only inaccurate but also hurtful to the family and the community.

Shantanu claimed, “My grandfather was called Kashai (which means the butcher), also called Patha (means goat), which is disrespectful. I think Vivek Agnihotri should research more on this. From where did they get this wrong information? He has not contacted us either. That’s why we are protesting this and will continue to do so. In protest, we have sent a legal notice to Vivek Agnihotri and also filed an FIR.”

Grandson of Gopal Mukherjee also claimed, “He was a part of the freedom movement. His ideology matched with Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. He worked with several notable freedom fighters. How can anyone say he is Kashai or Patha?”

The controversy comes on the 80th anniversary of the “Great Calcutta Killings”, a pivotal event in Indian history that led to the deaths of thousands of people in Kolkata (erstwhile Calcutta) on August 16, 1946, the ‘Direct Action Day’ called by the Muslim League.

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