Vivek Agnihotri Slams Unofficial Ban On ‘The Bengal Files’ In West Bengal; Producers Mull Legal Action

Kolkata: Vivek Agnihotri’s ‘The Bengal Files’ was released in theatres across the country on September 5, except in West Bengal.

Expressing his frustration over the film not being screened in theatres in Bengal, the director took to social media to allege that political pressure and threats were the reason behind the “unofficial ban.”

“I know that pain has touched their souls. It’s your film now. #TheBengalFiles is in cinemas now. (except WEST BENGAL & Pakistan),” the director posted on his X handle.

“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,” he added.

Ahead of the film’s release, Vivek told reporters in Mumbai that the West Bengal government and police are threatening theatre owners not to screen his film in the state.

He also stated that the film’s producers are planning to take legal action.

“A lot of theatre owners, including the leading multiplex chains’ officials, have said that the police have been threatening them of dire consequences if they release the film. They are like, ‘What will we do if they barge in and destroy our property?’” he said.

“Whatever the West Bengal government is doing is illegal and unconstitutional. We are planning to file a writ petition, but will decide based on what happens tomorrow, and accordingly, we will take legal action,” he added.

‘Discretion of hall & multiplex owners’

A senior Eastern India Motion Picture Association (EIMPA) official told PTI, “I cannot say why the film was not being slotted for screening in any theatre in West Bengal from today (September 5). It is the discretion of hall owners and multiplex owners.”

Navina theatre owner Navin Chokhani said the hall was already committed to screening ‘Baaghi 4,’ while a Bengali film ‘Dhumketu’ was also being shown, and thus screening ‘The Bengal Files’ was not possible.

A spokesperson for Menoka cinema said that the theatre is screening ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ and a Bengali film ‘Bahurupi,’ leaving no slot for ‘The Bengal Files.’

Priya Cinema owner Arijit Dutta said, “We have ‘Baaghi 4’ and two Bengali films, ‘Ahana: The Light Within’ and ‘Jhor,’ from September 5. There is no slot left for The Bengal Files.”

Multiplex chains including PVR Inox, Cinepolis and SVF Cinemas are also not be screening the film. None of their spokesperson was available for comment.

Earlier on Thursday, Vivek’s wife and co-producer Pallavi Joshi, who also features in the film, had written an open letter to President Droupadi Murmu, seeking intervention in the film’s release.  

The film, which revolves around the 1946 communal riots in Kolkata, has been embroiled in controversies ever since its trailer launch in the state capital.

The film has also been dubbed in Bengali “because lakhs of Bengali people want to watch it,” the director stated.

‘The Bengal Files’ is the third chapter in Agnihotri’s ‘The Files’ trilogy after ‘The Tashkent Files’ (2019) and ‘The Kashmir Files’ (2022).

The film features Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, Saswata Chatterjee and Darshan Kumarr.