Vivek Agnihotri claims West Bengal govt, police threatening theatres not to screen The Bengal Files, plans legal action

Director Vivek Agnihotri on Friday expressed anguish that his latest film, ‘The Bengal Files’, was not being screened in theatres across West Bengal on the day of its release, alleging political pressure and intimidation behind what he called an ”unofficial ban.” The film, concluding part of Agnihotri’s Files Trilogy, revisits the August 1946 Calcutta killings, which were triggered by the Muslim League’s call for Direct Action Day, leading to widespread communal violence, mass casualties, and eventually Mahatma Gandhi’s peace fast at Beleghata.

Regretting that the film cannot be seen in theatres in city and state, Agnihotri in a post on X said, ”I know that pain has touched their souls. It’s your film now. #TheBengalFiles is in cinemas now. (except WEST BENGAL & Pakistan)”.

In another post, Agnihotri said, ”There was a time when Tagore dreamt of a Bengal without fear. In today’s Bengal, the government has banned #TheBengalFiles, the boldest film ever made on Hindu genocide. Please watch The Bengal Files in theaters as your protest. In cinemas tomorrow.” In an ‘open letter’ addressed to President Droupadi Murmu on Friday, actor-producer Pallavi Joshi alleged that theatre owners have told the makers of the film that they were being intimidated, threatened and are refusing to screen it, fearing ”violence by ruling party workers”.