The state-run Star Theatre in Kolkata today stopped the screening of Bengali film 'Teen Kanya' on the premise that it sends out an anti-state message. West Bengal Education Minister Mr. Bratya Basu features in the movie. The movie, released yesterday, is a suspense thriller directed by Mr. Agnideb Chattopadhyay and stars noted actresses Ms. Rituparna Sengupta and Ms. Ananya Chatterjee.

Though it continues to be screened in private theatres, it has been pulled out of the Star Theatre. The film is said to bear a resemblance to the real-life Park Street rape case, in which an Anglo Indian woman was raped in a moving car. Chief minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee received criticism from all quarters after she dubbed the incident “fabricated”.

The filmmaker said he was dismayed and shocked that the government could take such action. The Trinamool Congress-run Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) which took over the heritage theatre in April this year, however, has washed its hands of the matter.

Rebel Trinamool Congress Parliamentarian Mr. Kabir Suman also condemned the move and said the incident reflected the 'growing intolerance' of Ms. Mamata Banerjee’s government. Talking to newspersons later the West Bengal Home Secretary Mr. Basudev Banerjee said that the state Government has nothing to do with the film being withdrawn from screening at the Star theatre.