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Bengali actor Rituparna Sengupta. (Picture: X)
A series of memes from her video flooded the internet, with people saying she seemed to want to drink from a conch shell rather than blow on it.
Earlier this month, Bengali actor Rituparna Sengupta joined the protests against the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Hospital on Independence Day and released a video of her blowing a conch to seek justice. She said she was unable to attend the in-person protest because she was traveling abroad.
However, her film was criticized. While some accused her of “faking it,” others pointed to poor editing.
A series of memes from her video flooded the internet, with some saying she appeared to be trying to drink from a conch shell instead of blowing on it, and others pointing out that she chose the wrong conch. Following the backlash, leading actress Meri Patni Aur Woh finally decided to delete the film from her account.
Clarifying his intention in making the video, the actor wrote: “The conch shell was played in response to a tragedy that shocked Kolkata and the world at large, and cannot be considered as pure drama. The brutality of this crime is shocking Shudder. I have a daughter at home, so if anyone thinks that my bare-faced and tearful conch is just a show, I want to tell them that this is my declaration of war against this atrocity in society.
“Lord Krishna used to blow conch shells to start and end battles. I may not be good at blowing conches, many of you may be better at blowing them, but my purpose is not just to talk, but to act. Prove that this is indeed a real fight and we will not stop until justice is served,” she added.
Dude, someone turned off the wifi connection. Can't take it anymore. Do conchs drink water?
Posted by LTMB on Friday, August 16, 2024
In addition to internet users, Bangladeshi actor Shrilekha Moitra also criticized Sengupta for “fake acting”. She said the actor – who was linked to the Trinamool Rose Valley food smuggling scam – was “trying to preserve his own interests by saying the terror incident had nothing to do with politics”.
Bengali actor Shrilekha Moitra slams Tollywood artistes Rachana Banerjee (TMC MP) and Rituparna Sengupta (questioned in TMC Rose Valley food smuggling scam) for “fake show” #kolkatadoctordies“They are trying to protect their interests by saying that the terrorist incidents have nothing to do with politics,”… pic.twitter.com/xCckI2UER0— Abhijit Majumder (@abhijitmajumder) August 19, 2024
The Supreme Court has taken up the case and will hear a “suo motu” petition on Tuesday. A bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud took note of the incident and placed the case at the top of the agenda for hearing. India's Central Bureau of Investigation, which is probing the case, has been given permission to conduct a polygraph test on accused citizen volunteer Sanjoy Roy.
CBI officials on Monday also questioned Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, for the fourth consecutive day in connection with the case.
Meanwhile, junior doctors are still protesting across the country over the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor, despite the Union Ministry of Health approving a 25% increase in security arrangements at general hospitals.
