The makers of the film The Bengal Files have accused the West Bengal government of deliberately preventing the movie’s release in the state. At a press conference held on Thursday during the film’s premiere, director Vivek Agnihotri and producer Pallavi Joshi claimed that its screening was being informally blocked. The film is set to release globally on Friday, but will not be screened in West Bengal or in four other countries: the UAE, Mauritius, Singapore, and Malaysia.
Pallavi Joshi, who is also an actor in the film, claimed that theatre owners in Bengal were being “threatened by the police” and warned of “serious consequences” if they screened the film. “We have appealed to the President as well. As a woman, I have written to her personally, seeking a smooth release for our film,” she said.
Vivek Agnihotri accused the state government of engaging in “hooliganism.” He noted that three of the largest newspapers in Kolkata had even refused to publish the film’s listing ads. “It is shameful that Bengal is now the fifth on that list,” he said, referring to the other nations where the film’s release is restricted. Agnihotri also revealed that his family had been receiving “threats day and night” and that multiple FIRs had been filed against him in various cities.
The director added that while the team was considering legal action, the unofficial nature of the ban complicated the matter. “The government has not given anything in writing. Everything is unofficial, which is a very smart tactic,” he told the media. He stated that they were planning to file a writ petition but would make a final decision after the release. Co-producer Abhishek Agarwal echoed the sentiment, arguing that this act of intimidation set a dangerous precedent for artistic freedom in India.
The Bengal Files, starring Mithun Chakraborty, Pallavi Joshi, and Anupam Kher, is scheduled to release in cinemas on Friday, September 5.