"The Bengal Files" Trailer Launch Plunges into Controversy, Director Alleges Political Obstruction in Kolkata

"Bengal Files" is an upcoming Indian Hindi-language political drama film that has generated significant controversy even before its release. Directed by Vivek Agnihotri, it is the third and final installment in his "Files Trilogy" based on modern Indian history, following The Tashkent Files (2019) and The Kashmir Files (2022).

Here are the key details about the film:

Plot: 

The film is based on the 1946 Great Calcutta Killings, also known as Direct Action Day, and the subsequent communal violence that erupted in Bengal, including the Noakhali riots. According to the director, the film is based on real events and aims to portray the "untold story of the Hindu genocide" during that period.

Director and Cast: 

The film is written and directed by Vivek Agnihotri. The cast includes veteran actors like Anupam Kher, Mithun Chakraborty, and Pallavi Joshi.

Controversy: 

The film's trailer launch in Kolkata recently sparked a major political row. Agnihotri alleged that a leading movie theater chain and a hotel cancelled the event at the last minute due to "political pressure." He claimed that police were also deployed to stop the screening, which he condemned as an act of censorship and an attack on democratic rights. The Trinamool Congress (TMC), in turn, criticized Agnihotri, calling him a "political video-maker" with a "single political agenda" and dared him to make films on other controversial topics like the 2002 Gujarat riots.

Release Date: 

The Bengal Files is scheduled for a theatrical release on September 5, 2025