“The Bengal Files” Fuels Controversy Over Unofficial Ban in West Bengal

Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri’s new political drama The Bengal Files – the third installment of his Files Trilogy after The Tashkent Files and The Kashmir Files – revisits the 1946 Calcutta riots (Direct Action Day) that triggered the Great Calcutta Killings and related communal violence. The film, starring Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, Darshan Kumaar, Sourav Das, Saswata Chatterjee, Eklavya Sood, Simratt Kaur Randhawa, Priyanshu Chatterjee, and others, is set to be released nationwide on September 5, 2025. Agnihotri says the movie confronts this “important part of history” and insists it was cleared by the censor board.

However, no West Bengal theatre has screened the film since its release. Producers and BJP leaders allege an “unofficial ban,” claiming owners were pressured by the Mamata Banerjee government and law enforcement to pull the film. BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya tweeted that The Bengal Files had “released worldwide, except in West Bengal and Pakistan,” calling it a “badge of honour” to Mamata Banerjee for “insult[ing] the sacrifice of Bengali Hindus”. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) flatly denies any ban. The party’s spokesman, Kunal Ghosh, insisted the film isn’t banned in West Bengal and explained that distributors and cinema chains, rather than the government, determined screenings.

Meanwhile, Agnihotri and co-producer Pallavi Joshi have appealed publicly for the film’s release. On September 2, Agnihotri, with folded hands in a video, urged Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to protect free speech and not suppress an important part of history. He noted that the CBFC had already cleared the film and reminded leaders of Bengal’s legacy of sacrifice in 1905 and 1947. Agnihotri also asked Bengali audiences to support the movie, warning on social media that “the government has banned #TheBengalFiles” and urging people to watch it in theatres as a form of protest. Writing to President Droupadi Murmu, Joshi echoed the concern, accusing parties of threatening theatre owners and calling it a suppression of artistic freedom.

Click here to watch the full video of Vivek Agnihotri’s Urgent Appeal to CM Mamata Banerjee

Not everyone agrees with Agnihotri’s narrative. The TMC has accused the filmmaker of whipping up controversy for political ends. Ghosh has dismissed the film as “propaganda”, suggesting Agnihotri is exploiting the issue to polarise voters. Some local theatre managers have offered other explanations: one cited pre-booked screenings of other films, while another noted capacity limits at single-screen venues. Still, national pundits like the Vishva Hindu Parishad in North Bengal have publicly criticized the state’s “decision not to permit” The Bengal Files‘ screening, noting Mamata Banerjee’s avowed Hindu identity and arguing the film highlights “historical instances where Hindus were subjected to…atrocities”.

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In parallel, a legal challenge arose over the film’s content. Santanu Mukherjee, the grandson of freedom fighter Gopal Chandra Mukherjee (Gopal Patha), had his petition refused by the Kolkata High Court on September 8. Santanu had argued that the film defamed his grandfather by using the term “Patha” (Bengali for “goat”) and implying he was involved in the 1946 killings. The court found the petition not maintainable and noted that Santanu’s RTI appeal about the censor board’s decision was too late. Practically speaking, the CBFC certificate for The Bengal Files is upheld, with no extra restrictions from the High Court.

Check Also: Watch the full video of Santanu Mukherjee's petition being rejected by the Kolkata High Court

As of now, The Bengal Files has opened in cinemas across India as scheduled. Its makers insist they will pursue all legal remedies if necessary to bring it to Bengal audiences. Vivek Agnihotri has warned of court action and noted that veteran actor Victor Banerjee has urged the President to ensure the film is screened without intimidation. For many viewers – both in India and abroad – the episode has spotlighted the tension between artistic expression and politics. Supporters of the film argue it exposes neglected history, while detractors accuse it of inflaming communal divides. The dispute continues to unfold in political forums and on social media even after the film’s release.