Kolkata: For years, Mamata Banerjee enjoyed the backing of some of Bengal’s biggest cultural icons. Actors, directors, singers and other prominent faces from Tollywood often stood beside her at public events, election campaigns and government programmes. Their support helped the Trinamool Congress project itself not just as a political force, but also as a movement closely connected with Bengal’s cultural identity.
Today, however, as the TMC faces one of its toughest moments in recent memory, many of those familiar faces appear to be missing.
The party is dealing with serious internal turbulence. Disagreements among senior leaders, organisational reshuffles and questions over discipline within the ranks have exposed cracks that were rarely visible in public before. At a time when the leadership is attempting to steady the ship, there has been little sign of the vocal celebrity support that once came naturally during elections or political battles.
The contrast is difficult to ignore. In the past, several members of the Bengali film industry were quick to defend the party against criticism or lend their presence to key campaigns. Their visibility often reinforced the perception that the TMC enjoyed strong support from Bengal’s cultural elite. Now, that support is far less visible.
Of course, politics has changed. Public figures today operate in a far more polarised environment than they did a decade ago. Every political statement is dissected on social media, and celebrities increasingly prefer to stay away from controversies that could divide their audiences. Silence, for many, may simply be the safer option.
Yet politics is often about standing with allies during difficult times, not just during victories. That is why the absence of many well known Tollywood personalities has become a talking point in political circles. It raises questions about whether the relationship between Bengal’s ruling party and sections of its cultural establishment is evolving.
None of this means that the Tollywood fraternity has abandoned Mamata Banerjee or the TMC. Many continue to maintain cordial relations with the government and the party. But in moments of crisis, visibility matters. And right now, the silence from a group that was once among the party’s most recognisable cheerleaders is louder than ever.
As the TMC attempts to overcome its challenges and rebuild internal unity, one question continues to linger: when the party is under pressure, where are the voices that once stood firmly by its side?
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