Guwahati: Assamese filmmaker Rosy Borah has accused noted film critic Utpal Datta of sexual misconduct at a private gathering earlier this year, an allegation that has sparked widespread discussion on social media. Following Borah’s revelation, several other women have reportedly come forward with similar claims. According to Borah, the alleged incident took place in January during a wedding anniversary celebration hosted by Datta and his wife Namrata at their residence. Borah said she attended the event with her daughter after 10 pm, describing the hosts as respected acquaintances she had known for a long time.
Borah alleged that during the gathering, an individual approached Namrata Datta requesting her to ask her husband to stop calling his wife due to personal family issues. She claimed Namrata dismissed the concern, stating that her husband was influential, had many female acquaintances and was often contacted by women. Shortly afterwards, Borah alleged that Datta touched her back in a manner that made her uncomfortable. She said she immediately stepped away, shaken by the incident and the earlier remarks about his reputation.
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Borah remained silent for nearly two months before deciding to speak publicly about the matter. She said her decision was motivated by a desire to ensure that her daughter and other women do not face similar situations in the future. After her account surfaced online, several women reportedly shared experiences of receiving inappropriate messages or advances from Datta. One costume designer also alleged that years ago he had asked her for revealing photographs during what he described as an interview, though the authenticity of shared screenshots has not been independently verified. Datta, a nationally recognised film critic and former director of Guwahati’s Chalachitram Film Festival, has not issued any public statement regarding the allegations so far.
