In an unprecedented move, filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri held a special press conference just before the premiere of his much-anticipated film The Bengal Files in Mumbai. The reason was not to celebrate the release—but to raise alarm over the mounting threats, intimidation, and systematic obstruction allegedly being faced by the film in West Bengal.
Agnihotri called the situation “a dark day for Indian democracy and artistic freedom,” alleging that police in West Bengal are directly threatening theatre owners to prevent the film from being screened.
“I want to highlight something very unusual today. You may have never seen a press conference held just before the premiere of a film. This is happening for the first time because this is not just a release—it’s a historic moment,” said Agnihotri, setting the tone for his explosive revelations.
He shared that earlier in the day, he spoke to the CEO of India’s top multiplex chain. With their permission, he revealed:“They told me the police are directly calling them, threatening them. They’re being told that if The Bengal Files is screened, the consequences will not be good. They’re asking me, ‘What will we do if party-backed goons come in and vandalize our theatres?’”
Agnihotri added that for the first time in a century of Indian cinema, leading newspapers in Kolkata have refused to carry the film’s press advertisements.“There are standard press ads that list show timings and cinema listings. Three major newspapers in Kolkata have refused to carry these ads. This has never happened before in film history,” he said.
Highlighting the scale of public interest, Agnihotri revealed that The Bengal Files has been dubbed in Bengali especially for local audiences.“Millions of Bengalis want to watch this film. Our distributor told us that if it releases in Bengal, it will create history. But unofficially, we’re hearing that the government and police are objecting to the film because it deals with the unspoken history of the Hindu genocide.”
“The film has been cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). It is releasing across India. But there are only four places in the world creating trouble—UAE, Mauritius, Singapore, and Malaysia—all Islamic countries, not secular. And now, the fifth place is West Bengal,” he stated pointedly.
Raising broader concerns, Agnihotri warned that what’s happening with The Bengal Files today could happen to any journalist, artist, or citizen tomorrow.“What’s happening in Bengal is nothing short of illegal. The state government is using the police for political goondaism. Day and night, we are getting threats—not just to me, but to my family. Legal threats, FIRs from random places. After five years of research and filmmaking on India’s partition—specifically Bengal’s partition—this is how our work is being silenced?”
“I appeal to the Prime Minister and Home Minister to intervene. And if not, then I appeal to every citizen of India—every film lover: This goonda raj must stop.”
The Bengal Files is the latest hard-hitting film from the makers of The Kashmir Files. Directed by Vivek Agnihotri and produced by Pallavi Joshi, the film explores the dark, largely untold history of Bengal’s partition and the communal violence that accompanied it. The film has been cleared by the CBFC and released nationwide on September 5, 2025, including a Bengali-language version to cater to local audiences.
However, the filmmakers allege that the state of West Bengal is actively working to block its release, raising grave questions about freedom of expression and the politicization of cinema.