When Gupi and Bagha Go Voting: Election Commission’s Creative Campaign in Bengal
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| Actors Kharaj Mukherjee, Nil Mukherjee, and Bishwanath Basu star as Satyajit Ray’s Gupi-Bagha trio in Election Commission’s new campaign. |
News Desk Report | Veritas Times | Kolkata Bureau
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has added a touch of cinema and nostalgia to West Bengal’s voter awareness drive, by reviving the iconic duo Gupi and Bagha, the beloved characters from Satyajit Ray’s timeless fantasy films.
In an unusual yet refreshing move, the Commission has launched a campaign under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls, featuring Kharaj Mukherjee as the King of Shundi, Nil (Sujan Mukherjee) as Gupi, and Bishwanath Basu as Bagha. The campaign video, already making waves on social media, uses humor and folklore to teach people about voter-list correction, BLO visits, and updating personal details.
Why Gupi and Bagha?
These characters are more than just comic legends; they symbolize cleverness, teamwork, and a sense of justice, exactly the qualities the Election Commission hopes to inspire in citizens as the 2026 Assembly Elections approach.
Through their familiar banter, the film stars explain how Booth Level Officers (BLOs) visit households, collect voter details, and why it’s important for citizens to cooperate. The campaign’s charm lies in its local flavor, a blend of cinema nostalgia, civic duty, and Bengali humor.
A Rule for Neutrality
But behind the creativity lies a clear instruction from the Election Commission:
“Actors participating in the SIR campaign must not be affiliated with any political party while the campaign is active.”
This clause aims to ensure complete neutrality and avoid political controversy during the voter-awareness drive.
When contacted, all three actors clarified their stance.
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Bishwanath Basu said, “I’ve received no such directive, but I keep away from political events anyway.”
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Nil (Sujan Mukherjee) shared, “I’ve worked with the Election Commission before, it’s purely about public awareness, not politics.”
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Kharaj Mukherjee added, “For me, it was just a creative shoot on a useful civic topic.”
Not the First Time
This isn’t the Election Commission’s first brush with Bollywood or Tollywood stars. Previously, Rajkummar Rao and Pankaj Tripathi were approached for similar roles in nationwide voter campaigns, though both reportedly withdrew due to restrictions on political engagement.
The West Bengal chapter, however, seems to have struck the right chord, blending cultural memory with civic awareness.
The Bigger Picture
By turning Gupi-Bagha’s adventures into a voter-education story, the Commission is not only re-energizing its outreach but also proving that creative storytelling can make democracy feel personal again.
In an era when young voters spend more time scrolling than reading pamphlets, this light-hearted campaign may just succeed in reminding them that democracy begins with an updated voter card.
So, the next time a BLO knocks on your door, remember, even Gupi and Bagha wouldn’t miss their chance to vote!