Latest news with #WestBengalCinemas(Regulation)Act
Time of India
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
‘The Bengal Files': Trailer launch for Vivek Agnihotri's directorial venture halted in Kolkata, police cite lack of permission
In a new development on the halted trailer launch of Vivek Agnihotri 's upcoming film, 'The Bengal Files', a senior police official has confirmed that the filmmaker did not have the necessary permission for a public screening in Kolkata. The event, which took place on Saturday, was stopped by police, causing a significant commotion. Read on to learn more. Vivek Agnihotri's 'The Bengal Files' trailer launch halted in Kolkata According to NDTV, a senior police officer has shared that Vivek Agnihotri violated Section 2 of the West Bengal Cinemas (Regulation) Act, 1954, by not taking the required administrative permission. This act governs the exhibition of cinema in the state. "If he has taken the required permission, he should at least show the media the documents," added the officer. Vivek Agnihotri talks about the halting of 'The Bengal Files' trailer launch Vivek Agnihotri claimed that the trailer launch of 'The Bengal Files' was halted at a five-star hotel in Kolkata on Saturday. Speaking to the reporters, he mentioned, 'It has happened in front of you, camera captured, the trailer launch of a CBFC-approved movie was stopped, this is anarchy, dictatorship. Police had come so that we could not show the movie.' "The film talks about demographic change, and they don't want to show it because the state itself empowers demographic change. I cannot be silenced," he added. More about 'The Bengal Files' Part of a trilogy, 'The Bengal Files' is said to chronicle the 1946 Great Calcutta Killings - also known as Direct Action Day. It sheds light on how communal violence in the state shaped India's path to partition and independence. Set to release on September 5, the movie features Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, Mithun Chakraborty, Saswata Chatterjee, and others in pivotal roles. "Get the latest news updates on Times of India, including reviews of the movie Coolie and War 2 ."
Mint
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- 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.
NDTV
2 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
After Ruckus At 'Bengal Files' Trailer Launch, Cops Say Vivek Agnihotri Didn't Take Permission
Kolkata: Kolkata Police sources have told NDTV that filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri had not sought any administrative permission for public view of the trailer of The Bengal Files in Kolkata. The attempt to screen the trailer without permission violated Section 3 of the West Bengal Cinemas (Regulation) Act, 1954 which governs the exhibition of cinema in the state, a senior police officer in Kolkata told NDTV. "If he has taken required permission, he should at least show the media the documents," the officer said. The response came after the Bollywood filmmaker claimed his trailer launch of 'The Bengal Files' at a five-star hotel in Kolkata was stopped on Saturday. Visuals of policemen entering the venue had gone viral on social media. On Friday, Mr Agnihotri was seen at Kalighat Temple offering prayers alongside Tushar Kanti Ghosh, the BJP's media incharge in Bengal. "It has happened in front of you, camera captured, the trailer launch of a CBFC-approved movie was stopped, this is an anarchy, dictatorship... Police had come so that we could not show the movie, the police are being used in Bengal because of some people's political ambitions," Mr Agnihotri told reporters. "The film talks about demography change, and they don't want to show it because the state itself empowers demography change. I cannot be silenced," he said. The ruling Trinamool Congress's spokesperson said Mr Agnihotri's allegation is baseless. "What the videomaker has said is totally 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," Trinamool leader Kunal 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," Mr Ghosh added. An ITC Royal Bengal spokesperson said it extended full cooperation and all relevant information has been shared with the authorities who are investigating the matter. 'The Bengal Files' says it depicts the 1946 Great Calcutta Killings - also known as Direct Action Day - and how communal violence in the state shaped India's path to Partition and Independence. The film stars Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, Mithun Chakraborty, and Saswata Chatterjee, among others. The film is set to release on September 5 and is part of Mr Agnihotri's Files trilogy.
Mint
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
West Bengal govt mandates screening of Bengali films in every cinema hall
New Delhi [India], August 13 (ANI): The West Bengal government has ordered the screening of at least one Bengali film each in all the cinema halls and every screen in multiplexes across the state on a regular basis. In an order issued by the state government's Information and Cultural Affairs Department, the films are to be screened during the prime time, i.e., between 3 pm to 9 pm. "After careful consideration of all aspects of the matter, and in exercise of the power conferred by sub-section (3) of section 5 of the West Bengal Cinemas (Regulation) Act, 1954, the Governor is hereby pleased to issue the following direction to all licensees of the State," the notification read. It further stated that every cinema hall and all screens in multiplexes in West Bengal must mandatorily have 365 prime time shows/screenings of Bengali films throughout the year, with at least one Bengali show per day for the 365 days. It emphasized that the prime time shows must be held only between 3 pm and 9 pm. "Necessary amendment to the West Bengal Cinemas (Regulation of Public Exhibitions) Rules, 1956 will be made in due course. This order shall come into immediate effect and will remain in force until further orders," it added. The move has been taken in the wake of growing pan-India releases in India, with the West Bengal government aiming to increase the visibility of regional cinema. Prior to this, the government had taken another move by streamlining the process of setting up mini-cinema halls in the state to focus on Bengali films and content. "Over the recent past, we are in receipt of a few proposals for setting up of infrastructure for screening of mini-cinema (with particular focus on Bengali cinema and content). This has the potential to work as a catalyst for development of Bengali film industry and the business model suggests that it might also benefit local businesses to grow further," the letter read from the office of the Chief Secretary. The changes are believed to have the potential to boost local culture and help small businesses grow. (ANI)
News18
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
West Bengal govt mandates screening of Bengali films in every cinema hall
New Delhi [India], August 13 (ANI): The West Bengal government has ordered the screening of at least one Bengali film each in all the cinema halls and every screen in multiplexes across the state on a regular basis. In an order issued by the state government's Information and Cultural Affairs Department, the films are to be screened during the prime time, i.e., between 3 pm to 9 pm.'After careful consideration of all aspects of the matter, and in exercise of the power conferred by sub-section (3) of section 5 of the West Bengal Cinemas (Regulation) Act, 1954, the Governor is hereby pleased to issue the following direction to all licensees of the State," the notification further stated that every cinema hall and all screens in multiplexes in West Bengal must mandatorily have 365 prime time shows/screenings of Bengali films throughout the year, with at least one Bengali show per day for the 365 days. It emphasized that the prime time shows must be held only between 3 pm and 9 pm. 'Necessary amendment to the West Bengal Cinemas (Regulation of Public Exhibitions) Rules, 1956 will be made in due course. This order shall come into immediate effect and will remain in force until further orders," it move has been taken in the wake of growing pan-India releases in India, with the West Bengal government aiming to increase the visibility of regional cinema. Prior to this, the government had taken another move by streamlining the process of setting up mini-cinema halls in the state to focus on Bengali films and content.'Over the recent past, we are in receipt of a few proposals for setting up of infrastructure for screening of mini-cinema (with particular focus on Bengali cinema and content). This has the potential to work as a catalyst for development of Bengali film industry and the business model suggests that it might also benefit local businesses to grow further," the letter read from the office of the Chief Secretary. The changes are believed to have the potential to boost local culture and help small businesses grow. (ANI)
