‘The Bengal Files' trailer delivers glimpse of Bengal's turbulent past
Set against the blood-soaked backdrop of West Bengal's violent political history, the film claims to uncover the long-buried narrative of the Hindu genocide. With chilling testimonies, stark visuals, and intense dialogues, the trailer positions the film as both a political commentary and a cinematic reckoning.
Director Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri described the project as a 'wake-up call.' He said: ''The Bengal Files' is a roar that we will not let Bengal become another Kashmir. We chose Kolkata for the trailer launch to preserve authenticity. If Kashmir hurt you, Bengal will haunt you.'
The film stars National Award-winning actress Pallavi Joshi, Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, and Darshan Kumar in pivotal roles. Each performance, as hinted in the trailer, is intended to echo lived realities. Pallavi Joshi, who also serves as a producer, emphasized: 'This is another face of reality society needs to confront. Every performance is rooted in deep truth, making the story even more powerful. Our trailer is just a glimpse of the haunting reality audiences will witness on screen.'
Veteran star Mithun Chakraborty called the film a turning point: ''The Bengal Files' is everything the audience never expected. For me, cinema is about making a difference. This role has brought me closer to the people I represent, and it will do the same for viewers.'
Produced by Abhishek Agarwal, Pallavi Joshi, and Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri, and presented by Tej Narayan Agarwal & I Am Buddha, the film is set for a worldwide release by Zee Studios.
Arriving in theatres on September 5, 2025, The Bengal Files promises to spark nationwide debate, with Agnihotri once again pushing cinema into the heart of India's most contested historical memories.
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Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Don't reduce grandfather to a Muslim-hating kasai, says Gopal Pattha's kin; sends notice to Agnihotri
1 2 Kolkata: Vivek Agnihotri 's 'The Bengal Files' has met with opposition from unexpected quarters. Santanu Mukherjee, the grandson of Gopal Mukherjee — the legendary 'Gopal Pattha' — who was a key defender of central Calcutta's Hindu neighbourhoods during the Direct Action Day communal clashes of Aug 1946, has sent a legal notice to Agnihotri, claiming the movie "belittles, dehumanises and demonises an important figure from the history of India's independence struggle. " On Saturday, the film's trailer was screened at ITC Royal Bengal, triggering a war of words between Agnihotri and Trinamool, with the former accusing Bengal administration of "anarchy and dictatorship". TMC said the film "was a political video made as part of a pre-election political assignment". You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata | Gold Rates Today in Kolkata | Silver Rates Today in Kolkata The Mukherjee family does not want to be a part of the politics but has firm ideas about its most famous forebear, Gopal Pattha. Santanu had filed an FIR against the movie on July 14, apprehending "denigration of not only his (Gopal's) words or deeds but his ideological conviction along with historic struggle". "Listening to interviews and reading previews of the film, I was apprehensive about how my grandfather would be portrayed. The trailer has confirmed those suspicions," Santanu told TOI, sitting at the family's 200-year-old ancestral home in central Kolkata's Malanga Lane near Wellington Square. The family's biggest issue with the film is its apparent portrayal of the Kolkata strongman as "a rabble-rousing Muslim-hating butcher". "Grandfather also protected Muslim families in our neighbourhood during the communal clashes of 1946," Santanu said. Pointing to the house opposite, his sister Niharika added: "He sheltered members of that Muslim family on our terrace. Grandfather also protected the family of a rickshaw-puller... we called him Rafique Chacha. Even today, families who own the Islamia medicine shop or Mullickbazar's Haji meat shop respect our family. " This Aug 16 marked 80 years of the communal clashes that unfolded on Malanga Lane. Ahead of the 1946 riots, Muslim League volunteers had started gathering in different parts of Kolkata, Santanu said. On Aug 16, at a public meeting at Shaheed Minar, a call went out that before India's Independence, the League must be given Pakistan. After that, looting started at the arms shops around Esplanade. Killings and plunder followed. The "action" then spread to Narkeldanga and Colootola. The film, Santanu fears, will negate Gopal Pattha's message to his followers: "Don't kill the innocent. Protect children and women, whether Hindus or Muslims." He said: "To resist the riots, my grandfather organised his followers and took up arms. He had declared, 'if League rioters kill one, you must kill 10. But no harm must come to any innocent Muslim'." "The trailer crystallises my grandfather's persona in a single phrase — 'Ek tha kasai'. We think Gopal Pattha was much more than a mere butcher. He was a freedom fighter and social worker," Santanu added. The "Pattha" term, too, leaves a lot of scope for misinterpretation, feels Santanu. "Local Biharis started calling my grandfather 'Gopal Pattha' because of his bravery... from the Bengali phrase 'buker paata'. 'Pattha' never referred to 'pnatha' or goat. The film, I apprehend, is ill-researched and do my grandfather's reputation more harm than good," he said, adding that Gopal Pattha was "a known follower of both Mahatma Gandhi and Netaji". Highlighting a part of the trailer where actor Sourav Das (who plays the character of Gopal Pattha) is seen saying, "Bharat Hinduon ka rashtra hai... is yudh me Hindu haar rahe hain... Jeet kaun raha hain? Jinnah... Hum sab nashe mein chur hain aur is nashe ka naam hain Gandhi ki ahimsa", Santanu said: "My grandfather had started as a follower of Gandhi. Then, like Netaji, he felt there had to be an armed struggle. To reduce him to a hater of Muslims and Gandhi is just not on. The trailer shows Gopal Pattha running with a sword with saffron flags in background. That's absolutely wrong." Gopal Mukherjee opened his meat shop on Premchand Boral Street in 1935, with the family's primary earner — Gopal's uncle freedom-fighter Anukul — in jail, said Santanu's elder sister Neeta. The shop closed in 2015. The family, however, has another meat shop in Jadubabur Baazaar. "My grandfather used to buy goats from Muslim traders — before and after Direct Action day," said Santanu. Gopal died in 2005 at 92. Santanu wrote in the police complaint and legal notice: "These nefarious activities of Vivek Agnihotri are willfully, wantonly and maliciously besmirching the reputation of grandfather, stereotyping him as a communal thug and is aimed at flaring up communal tensions based on baseless depictions of my late grandfather's historic actions." Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
India.com
12 hours ago
- India.com
This 2014 suspense-thriller film had many bold scenes, climax will leave you in shock, movie name is…, lead actors were…
In the realm of cinema, certain characters blur the lines between love and obsession, sanity and madness. These portrayals captivate audiences, leaving them both intrigued and unsettled. One such enigmatic character emerged in a film that delved deep into the psyche of a woman driven by an all-consuming passion. Which film is this? The film in question is Zid, released on November 28, 2014. Directed by Vivek Agnihotri, known for The Kashmir Files and The Tashkent Files. This suspense-thriller introduced Mannara Chopra, cousin of actress Priyanka Chopra, in the role of Maya. What was the storyline? The narrative revolves around Maya, a young woman who becomes obsessively infatuated with journalist Rony, portrayed by Karanvir Sharma. Maya's love transcends normal boundaries, turning into a dangerous fixation that leads her to eliminate anyone she perceives as a threat to their union. The plot thickens with the mysterious death of Nancy, played by Seerat Kapoor, casting suspicion on Maya, Rony, and Priya (Shraddha Das). Maya's character is depicted as a complex blend of vulnerability and volatility, caring for her paralyzed father while battling inner demons. Her portrayal includes bold scenes that underscore her intense emotional state. How were the performances in Zid? The performances in Zid were mix of promise and limitations. Mannara Chopra, in her debut, garnered attention for her bold portrayal and screen presence. However, while she brought intensity to certain scenes, critics felt her emotional expressions lacked maturity and nuance. Karanvir Sharma, playing the male lead, delivered a more subtle performance, but his character was underwritten, leaving little room for impact. Shraddha Das, in a supporting role, brought confidence and some edge to her part, though her presence was limited by the film's narrow focus. How was the box office reception? Despite a decent opening weekend driven by curiosity, the collections dropped sharply after negative word-of-mouth and poor reviews. Zid earned approximately Rs 14 crore at the Indian box office against an estimated budget of Rs 10 crore. Critics slammed the film for its weak storyline and excessive focus on sensationalism over substance.
Mint
19 hours ago
- Mint
The Bengal Files: Director Vivek Agnihotri had no permission for trailer launch in Kolkata, says police insider
Filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri faced disruption during an event at ITC Royal Bengal on August 16. The trailer of The Bengal Files was suddenly stopped. The hotel organisers, along with the police, allegedly interrupted the event. According to Agnihotri, last-minute instructions blocked the screening even though all permissions had been taken. Now, a Kolkata Police officer has claimed that the filmmaker had no permission for the trailer launch. According to Kolkata Police sources, Agnihotri did not take any permission for public screening. "If he has taken the required permission, he should at least show the media the documents," the insider told NDTV. The trailer launch violated Section 3 of the West Bengal Cinemas (Regulation) Act, 1954, which controls film exhibitions in the state, according to officials. The Bengal Files is set to release nationwide on September 27. The cast includes Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, Darshan Kumaar. All four also featured in The Kashmir Files. Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar alleged that it was Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's conspiracy to block the release of The Bengal Files. The film highlights communal violence in undivided Bengal during the 1940s, including Direct Action Day and the Noakhali riots. According to the BJP leader, Bengal's current situation mirrors this suppression. 'She (Mamata Banerjee) does not want the real history to come out. It is a democracy, and you cannot resist anyone from making films. There are many films that are made against the present government. It is a kind of freedom of speech, freedom of expression and freedom of the director," Majumdar told ANI. Vivek Agnihotri alleged that the authorities had cut all the wires. He said it was something that had never happened inside a private hotel. 'Who are these people who don't want anyone to know about this? Who are these people hounding us? You all know the answer,' Agnihotri said to the audience present at the event. The controversial filmmaker mentioned several FIRs and ongoing legal battles. A multiplex chain in Kolkata refused to show the trailer, he said. Agnihotri alleged that the ITC hotel manager stopped the running event without reason even though the organisers had 'full permission'. Trinamool Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh has called Agnihotri's allegation 'baseless'. "If he has guts, first make 'Gujarat Files' on the Godhra riots, then go to Manipur, make 'Manipur Files'. Go to UP - Unnao, Hathras, Prayagraj, and make 'UP Files'. He is planted by a political force," Ghosh said. "He made 'Kashmir Files' and now he is blaming West Bengal, distorting facts, and maligning West Bengal. He is doing his job assigned by the BJP," he added.
