Vivek Agnihotri’s ‘The Bengal Files’ Faces Roadblock in Kolkata

• The special screening of Director Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri’s ‘The Bengal Files’ was halted in Kolkata.
• The director claims the cancellations were due to political pressure in the state.
• The Kolkata Police stated the event lacked the required amusement license and prior intimation.

GG News Bureau
Kolkata,16th Aug: Director Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri claims that the screening and trailer launch of his upcoming film, ‘The Bengal Files’, were halted in Kolkata on Saturday due to political pressure. The event, which was initially planned at a multiplex, was later moved to a hotel after the first venue was allegedly canceled. The director stated that he was informed by organizers that they faced political pressure and feared “getting into a lot of trouble.”

During the hotel event, which was also disrupted, Agnihotri accused the state’s “most powerful person” of obstructing the program, with videos showing him arguing with police and officials. He called the incident an act of “dictatorship.” Actor Pallavi Joshi also questioned the state of freedom of expression.

In a counter-statement, a senior Kolkata Police official told media that the organizers lacked the required amusement license and had not informed the local police in advance. The official stated that police intervened because the organizers could not produce the necessary permits.

The film is said to be based on the events of Direct Action Day, an event from 1946 when the All-India Muslim League called for a general strike to demand a separate Muslim homeland. Agnihotri’s previous film, The Kashmir Files, also sparked significant controversy. The release date for ‘The Bengal Files’ is set for September 5.