Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri, known for his work on ‘The Kashmir Files’ and currently promoting ‘The Bengal Files,’ has shared his perspective on his films and his identity. Agnihotri has described himself as both a filmmaker and a ‘psychiatrist of cinema,’ stating that he aims to represent the Hindu community through his work.
‘The Bengal Files’ aims to shed light on the lesser-known aspects of Bengal’s history. Agnihotri discussed the importance of the film, saying, “It is very important that I make this film, to make the youth aware, to give them knowledge. Also, the entire community gets a chance to express a generational trauma.”
He reflected on the impact of ‘The Kashmir Files’, stating, “Acknowledging trauma is the first step towards healing. Through this film, I have worked as a psychiatrist for the entire Indian society.” He humorously added, “I am a filmmaker-psychiatrist.”
When asked if he considers himself the voice of Hindus, Agnihotri replied, “Yes, why not? In fact, I think I am the voice of the entire Hindu civilization. I try to do this, and civilization doesn’t mean that everything is great and good. I want to talk about what went wrong in civilization or with civilization.”
He further explained his focus on Hindu history, stating, “People have been raising the issue of different communities and have been their voice… I cannot make films on Islamic or Christian history because I do not know them well enough. My access to Hindu history is greater than any other history. That’s why I make it.”
‘The Bengal Files,’ featuring actors like Mithun Chakraborty and Anupam Kher, is slated for release on September 5th, and is intended to inform audiences about the ‘untold history’ of Bengal.