Agnihotri Voices Concerns Over ‘The Bengal Files’ Release

Vivek Agnihotri, the director of ‘The Bengal Files’, has voiced his worries about whether his film will be released in West Bengal. He urged Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to permit the film’s screening, stating that it aims to unveil the truth about the events in Bengal and its partition. Agnihotri believes that the film is essential for shedding light on a significant historical event. He contrasted the tolerance shown towards films about the Nazi holocaust and Hiroshima with the potential obstruction of his film, which addresses the genocide in Bengal. Agnihotri expressed his concerns about the death threats he’s received and the challenges faced by filmmakers in making socio-political films. He also discussed the prevalent subjectivity in historical cinema and how the Partition of Bengal has been overlooked in contrast to films focusing on the Punjab partition. Addressing the concerns raised by the family of historical figure Gopal Mukherjee, Agnihotri mentioned that Mukherjee’s grandson, a TMC member, may have political pressures. The cancellation of the trailer screening has raised alarms. Agnihotri stated his determination to fight legally and constitutionally to ensure the film’s release, considering it a fight for freedom of expression and the people affected by the events in Bengal.