When Vivek Agnihotri makes a film, you know it’s not going to be sugar-coated popcorn entertainment; it’s a reality check. After The Kashmir Files shook the nation (and set off a storm of debates), his latest offering, The Bengal Files, is already the centre of controversy before it even hits the big screens. While the film is waiting for its official release, the buzz is that Bengal itself might not see it because of the political roadblocks.
Vivek Agnihotri Challenges Mamata Banerjee’s Proposed Ban on The Bengal Files
Vivek Agnihotri is not holding back. In a fiery video, he directly called out West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee. According to him, exhibitors are facing massive political pressure, FIRs are flying around like confetti, and the whole attempt smells of a ban in disguise. His question to Mamata was sharp: “Why ban the truth?”
Agnihotri reminded Mamata of her constitutional oath, saying that free speech isn’t a privilege, it’s a right. Since The Bengal Files already has a CBFC certificate, stopping it in Bengal makes no sense. His message was clear: debate it, discuss it, even criticise it – but don’t bury it.
Bengal’s untold pain
The film dives deep into the horrors of Direct Action Day (August 16, 1946) and the Noakhali genocide, chapters that have been brushed under the carpet for too long. Agnihotri called Bengal the “civilizational crown” of India, the land of Vivekananda, Tagore, and Subhash Chandra Bose. He asked a burning question:“Do we find a single Jewish child, Black child, or Japanese child who does not know about their people’s sufferings? Then why is our new generation unaware of the most disastrous chapter of our country?”
Interestingly, when Bengalis abroad watched the film, many told Agnihotri that it sparked a sense of healing. His final appeal to Mamata was blunt yet respectful – watch the film, debate it, but don’t deny Bengal the chance to confront its own history.
About The Bengal Files
The Bengal Files comes from the powerhouse duo – written and directed by Vivek Agnihotri, produced by Abhishek Agarwal and Pallavi Joshi. The cast is a goldmine of talent: Mithun Chakraborty, Pallavi Joshi, Anupam Kher, Saswata Chatterjee, Namashi Chakraborty, Puneet Issar, and Darshan Kumar. The film is part of Vivek’s controversial yet successful “Files Trilogy” after The Kashmir Files and The Tashkent Files.
Circle September 5, 2025, on your calendars because whether Bengal gets to see it or not, the rest of India will definitely be talking about The Bengal Files.
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