As the highly anticipated Baaghi 4 and The Bengal Files gear up for their simultaneous release on September 5, 2025, it’s clear that one film is destined to overshadow the other. While Baaghi 4 will likely attract fans of mindless action, it is The Bengal Files that holds the edge, thanks to its powerful content, historical significance, and the provocative vision of its director, Vivek Agnihotri.
Baaghi 4, starring Tiger Shroff and directed by A. Harsh, promises more of the same: intense action, adrenaline-fueled sequences, and a thin plot centered around mindless violence. While the franchise had its moment with the initial success of Baaghi 2, the subsequent release, Baaghi 3, was a massive flop, and it’s clear that the formula is running out of steam. Shroff’s wooden performances and repetitive action sequences offer little beyond empty thrills, and there’s little hope that Baaghi 4 will bring anything fresh to the table. The series has become a caricature of itself, more concerned with spectacle than substance, and it shows in its diminishing returns at the box office.
In stark contrast, The Bengal Files, written and directed by Vivek Agnihotri, tackles a dark and underexplored chapter of Indian history: the 1946 Great Calcutta Killings and the Noakhali riots. Agnihotri, whose previous films—The Kashmir Files and The Tashkent Files—sparked intense conversations and debates about forgotten historical events, is once again positioning himself as a filmmaker who isn’t afraid to tackle controversial subjects. By focusing on a narrative that has been suppressed for decades, The Bengal Files promises to engage audiences on a much deeper level, exploring themes of violence, identity, and historical erasure.
The ensemble cast, including Darshan Kumar, Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, and Pallavi Joshi, adds gravitas to the film, ensuring that its runtime isn’t just a display of cinematic flair but a commitment to telling an in-depth story. With its focus on history and its potential to provoke conversation, The Bengal Files is positioned as a more significant cultural event. In an era where audiences crave films that go beyond mere entertainment, The Bengal Files offers the intellectual and emotional depth that Baaghi 4 simply cannot.
One of the key advantages The Bengal Files holds is its ability to spark dialogue. Films that touch on real, often uncomfortable aspects of history tend to resonate long after the credits roll. Agnihotri’s ability to stir up national conversations, as seen with The Kashmir Files, will likely carry over into The Bengal Files. As social media buzzes with debates about its historical accuracy and its portrayal of sensitive events, the film could gain momentum, drawing in viewers who may not have initially planned to see it but are compelled by the discussions it generates.
Meanwhile, Baaghi 4 risks being lost in the noise of its repetitive nature. While action films have their place in Bollywood, the franchise’s tired formula and lack of character development leave little room for the kind of deep connection that audiences increasingly seek. As content-driven cinema continues to rise, The Bengal Files stands out as a film that challenges, educates, and leaves a lasting impact—something Baaghi 4 simply cannot offer.