Shivani
Recalling Bengal’s leadership in shaping the country’s culture and its role as the soul of India, Vivek Agnihotri stated that its people made the greatest sacrifices in 1905 and 1947.
Vivek Agnihotri urges CM Mamata Banerjee to ensure the smooth release of ‘The Bengal Files’ in theatres.
In a video shared on X, Agnihotri appealed to Banerjee “with folded hands,” urging her to hear him out and not to “suppress an important part of history” from reaching the next generation. Director Vivek Agnihotri has urged West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to ensure the unhindered release of his film The Bengal Files, claiming that Trinamool Congress workers were pressuring theatre owners not to screen it.
The film, the final installment in Agnihotri’s The Files trilogy—following The Tashkent Files (2019) and The Kashmir Files (2022)—delves into the communal riots of August 1946 in Kolkata, infamously remembered as ‘Direct Action Day’. In a video message on X, Agnihotri appealed to Banerjee, “with folded hands,” urging her to hear him out and not “suppress an important part of history.” Claiming that theatre owners in the state were reportedly being threatened against screening the film, Agnihotri reminded Banerjee of her constitutional responsibilities.
“You have taken an oath on the Indian Constitution to protect the rights of every citizen, the right of free speech, and it is your responsibility to see to it that the film does not face any disruption. Please consider the fact that the CBFC has cleared this film,” he stated. Vivek Agnihotri recalled that Bengal has historically been at the forefront of India’s cultural scene and considered the soul of the nation. He added that the state and its people made the greatest sacrifices during 1905 and 1947.
Addressing the concern that screening the film might reopen old wounds of riots and violence, he argued, “If Japanese children are taught about the Hiroshima and Nagasaki tragedies, why shouldn’t the new generation learn about an important part of our state’s and nation’s history?” He added, “A true Bengali would not call for the movie to be banned. This film must not be banned in Bengal,” he stated.
Agnihotri further asked if Muslim, Christian, and Dalit persecutions can be projected in films worldwide, “why should we keep under wraps Hindu genocide. Why should we wish to keep lies alive?” The filmmaker also recounted how the trailer launch of his film at a five-star hotel in the city on August 17 was physically stopped, calling it an attack on freedom of expression. The film, scheduled for release this Friday, stars Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, Saswata Chatterjee, and Darshan Kumarr.