The Bengal Files trailer: Vivek Agnihotri film promises to tell the ‘buried story of Hindu genocide'. Watch
The Bengal Files trailer
The trailer opens with the line, 'Yeh Pachim Bangal hai, yaha do constitution chalta hai, ek Hinduao ka, ek Musalmanon ka (This is West Bengal, here there are two constitutions- one for Hindus and the other for Muslims).' Another character declares, 'Sirf Zameen ka tukda nahi, Bharat ka light house hai Bangal (This is not just about partition, because Bengal is the lighthouse of Bharat).'
A press note from the makers describes the film as 'an exposé of the brutal Hindu genocide that mainstream narratives have long buried.' Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, and Mithun Chakraborty feature in the ensemble cast, which also stars Bengali actors Saswata Chatterjee and Sourav Das.
Viewers react
Many viewers praised Vivek Agnihotri for taking up this issue. One comment read, 'As an Indian Bengali, I am thankful that atleast one film maker had the guts and intent to bring this attrocity and gory chapter of Indian history to light.' Another added, 'I am a bengali form Tripura. I got tears in my eyes the moment I saw trailer. Thanks vivek agnihotri to making tha Film.' Many hoped the film would objectively show the reality of the Partition in that part of the country. 'Bengal files is not only for the people of Bengal but also for the people of the entire country,' wrote one viewer.
The cast and crew on The Bengal Files
Vivek Agnihotri said, 'The Bengal Files is a wake-up call… a roar that we will not let Bengal become another Kashmir. We decided to launch the trailer in Kolkata to bring authenticity to the portrayal of untold story of Hindu Genocide and you will witness a glimpse of it in the trailer. The nation should prepare… because if Kashmir hurt you, Bengal will haunt you.'
Mithun Chakraborty added, 'The Bengal Files is everything the audience never expected. For me, this is what cinema is for, making a difference and showing what people need to see. I tell you, I am representing all of you. This character has always brought me closer to you, and it will do the same for you as well.'
About The Bengal Files
The Bengal Files is written and directed by Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri and produced by Abhishek Agarwal, Pallavi Joshi and Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri. Produced by Zee Studios, presented by Tej Narayan Agarwal & I Am Buddha, it is a part of Vivek's Files trilogy that includes The Kashmir Files and The Tashkent Files. The film will arrive in theatres on September 5.
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Vivek Agnihotri Threatens Legal Action If West Bengal Government Stalls The Bengal Files Release: "Will Pray That..."
New Delhi: Filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri on Monday said he would go the legal route if the release of his film The Bengal Files is stalled in West Bengal. The trailer launch of the film in Kolkata was disrupted on Saturday. Agnihotri claimed the event was first cancelled by a multiplex and then moved to a hotel where power supply was disrupted and police turned up asking if permission had been taken. "We will go by the Constitution. We will go legally. If they stop us, we will take the legal course. What can we do? We are common citizens like you… We will pray that sanity prevails and the state government does not do it (stop the release)," the filmmaker said at a press conference here while hitting out at the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government in West Bengal. The Bengal Files, which is slated for release on September 5, revolves around the Calcutta riots of August 16, 1946, which were triggered after the All-India Muslim League called for 'Direct Action Day' to demand a separate homeland. '...This is an Indian film. I am telling you the truth," Agnihotri said. Known for films such as The Kashmir Files and The Tashkent Files, Agnihotri also addressed the many controversies surrounding his latest release, including an FIR by Gopal Chandra Mukherjee's grandson Santanu Mukherjee. Gopal Mukherjee is said to have played a pivotal role in the resistance against the Muslim mob violence in 1946. Santanu claims Agnihotri's film refers to his grandfather as a butcher. Agnihotri said Gopal Mukherjee in his film is an inspired character and not central to the plot. "I will not go into his history. Watch Santanu's interview. I can give you all the links. There is an interview of Gopal Mukherjee on BBC. In that interview, what he has said, we have only shown that much. I have nothing to do with Gopal Mukherjee's life, politics. He was a hero and I have shown him as a hero," he said. "I respect Gopal Mukherjee a lot. His grandsons work with TMC. There is a compulsion there… They have done it legally. We are giving a legal answer to that," he said. Agnihotri claimed the film is his attempt to reveal hidden truths. He said he aims at showing "the untold stories of India". 'Our purpose is very clear. I make films on Hindu civilisation. That is why I make films on Hindu history. I do not consider myself capable of making films on Islamic history or Christian history," he said, adding that filmmakers like Mani Ratnam and Vishal Bhardwaj have already made movies on the Islamic history of Kashmir through Roja and Haider. Agnihotri said the censor board passed The Bengal Files without any cuts though it went through the examining committee and then the revising committee. "This film was made with a lot of responsibility and sincerity. No one can object to this. Bengalis will be proud of this film." The Bengal Files stars Mithun Chakraborty, Saswata Chatterjee, Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, Priyanshu Chatterjee and Darshan Kumar.
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
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Vivek Agnihotri 'will take legal course' if The Bengal Files release is not allowed in West Bengal: 'If they stop us...'
Filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri on Monday said he would go the legal route if the release of his film The Bengal Files is stalled in West Bengal. Vivek Agnihotri's film, The Bengal Files, is slated to release in September. The trailer launch of the film in Kolkata was disrupted on Saturday. Agnihotri claimed the event was first cancelled by a multiplex and then moved to a hotel where power supply was disrupted and police turned up asking if permission had been taken. "We will go by the Constitution. We will go legally. If they stop us, we will take the legal course. What can we do? We are common citizens like you… We will pray that sanity prevails and the state government does not do it (stop the release),' the filmmaker said at a press conference here while hitting out at the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government in West Bengal. The Bengal Files, which is slated for release on September 5, revolves around the Calcutta riots of August 16, 1946, which were triggered after the All-India Muslim League called for Direct Action Day to demand a separate homeland. 'This is an Indian film. I am telling you the truth," Agnihotri said. Known for films such as The Kashmir Files and The Tashkent Files, Agnihotri also addressed the many controversies surrounding his latest release, including an FIR by Gopal Chandra Mukherjee's grandson, Santanu Mukherjee. Gopal Mukherjee is said to have played a pivotal role in the resistance against the Muslim mob violence in 1946. Santanu claims Agnihotri's film refers to his grandfather as a butcher. Agnihotri said Gopal Mukherjee in his film is an inspired character and not central to the plot. "I will not go into his history. Watch Santanu's interview. I can give you all the links. There is an interview of Gopal Mukherjee on BBC. In that interview, what he has said, we have only shown that much. I have nothing to do with Gopal Mukherjee's life, politics. He was a hero, and I have shown him as a hero," he said. "I respect Gopal Mukherjee a lot. His grandsons work with TMC. There is a compulsion there… They have done it legally. We are giving a legal answer to that," he said. Agnihotri claimed the film is his attempt to reveal hidden truths. He said he aims at showing "the untold stories of India". 'Our purpose is very clear. I make films on Hindu civilization. That is why I make films on Hindu history. I do not consider myself capable of making films on Islamic history or Christian history," he said, adding that filmmakers like Mani Ratnam and Vishal Bhardwaj have already made movies on the Islamic history of Kashmir through "Roja" and "Haider". Agnihotri said the censor board passed The Bengal Files without any cuts though it went through the examining committee and then the revising committee. "This film was made with a lot of responsibility and sincerity. No one can object to this. Bengalis will be proud of this film." The Bengal Files stars Mithun Chakraborty, Saswata Chatterjee, Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, Priyanshu Chatterjee, and Darshan Kumar.
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What is The Bengal Files controversy? Vivek Agnihotri breaks silence on FIR, says 'Gopal Mukherjee is…'
The Bengal Files director Vivek Agnihotri breaks the silence after a new FIR has been registered against him on charges of 'wrongfully' describing freedom fighter Gopal Chandra Mukherjee a.k.a Gopal Patha 'as a butcher', in the recently released movie trailer. Gopal Mukherjee's grandson, Santana Mukherjee, who has registered the fresh FIR, stated that they have taken exception to the movie portraying his grandfather without the prior permission of the family members. Reacting to the latest FIR against him, Vivek Agnihotri stated at a press conference for the film in Delhi that he would respond to Santana legally. Agnihotri further said he has done full justice to the portrayal of Patha who is celebrated for playing a key role in the Hindu resistance during the 1946 Calcutta Killings. However, denying the allegations, Agnihotri said he had portrayed Mukherjee as the hero that he was. At the press conference for the film in Delhi on Monday, the filmmaker said that while he would answer Santana Mukherjee legally, he has done full justice to the portrayal of the man who is celebrated for playing a key role in the Hindu resistance during the 1946 Calcutta Killings. 'Gopal Mukherjee was a hero. I have shown him as a hero in the film. I have taken a bit from his interview with the BBC, and taken what he said verbatim. I am aware that the people of Bengal regard him as a hero, and that is how I have portrayed him,' he said. Vivek Agnihotri revealed that he was supposed to inaugurate Gopal Chandra Mukherjee's idol the other day, but after the events of the trailer launch, he couldn't perform. 'I have a lot of respect for him,' he said. Santana's FIR against Vivek Agnihotri is an act done under political pressure Vivek Agnihotri said Santana Mukherjee had filed an FIR against him and the team of The Bengal Files because he was 'forced' to do so. 'His grandson, Santana, works with the TMC (Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress) and he is doing what is compulsory for him… you know what the politics of Bengal is like. He is being forced to do what he is doing. We will answer him legally,' he concluded. What did Santana Mukherjee say? Gopal Patha's grandson had said, 'Secondly, we take strong objection to describing our grandfather as 'a butcher' in the movie. Besides being a part of the freedom-fighters' group, 'Anushilon Samity', my grandfather owned two goat-meat shops. He was a wrestler. He took to arms to protect people from the communal violence unleashed by the Muslim League in Kolkata in 1946'. On July 31, Agnihotri and his wife Pallavi Joshi approached a single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court seeking dismissal of two other FIRs filed against 'The Bengal Files'. An FIR was registered against the movie in Murshidabad district soon after the teaser campaign for the movie was released. Later, another FIR was also registered at Lake Town Police in Kolkata. The main accusation in the FIR was that the movie might contain some sensitive matter that may hamper the communal harmony in the state. (With agency inputs)
