Democracy Dead’: The Bengal Files Kolkata Ban Leaves Filmmakers Furious

The Bengal Files Kolkata Ban after the trailer launch of Vivek Agnihotri’s upcoming film The Bengal Files has turned into a political storm in Kolkata. On Saturday, August 16, 2025, the much-awaited trailer event was stopped midway by police officials at a city hotel. The incident, which happened on Direct Action Day — a historic date linked to communal violence in 1946 — has created a heated debate over censorship, politics, and freedom of expression in West Bengal.

Vivek Agnihotri Slams ‘Anarchy and Dictatorship’

Vivek Agnihotri, the filmmaker behind The Kashmir Files and The Tashkent Files, expressed strong anger after the event was halted. He claimed that despite having all necessary permissions, the police stopped the screening of the CBFC-approved trailer. Speaking to the media, he said, “You can see how many police personnel are here as if we are criminals. This is nothing but dictatorship and fascism.”

Later, Agnihotri took to social media and alleged that the The Bengal Files Kolkata ban was done on the orders of “top authorities.” He further wrote that democracy had died in the land of Rabindranath Tagore and Swami Vivekananda.

Pallavi Joshi Questions Freedom of Expression

Actress and producer Pallavi Joshi also raised her voice against the incident. She said that artists deserve respect and freedom to showcase their work. “What is the threat in showing a film trailer that is already approved by the censor board? Such a thing did not happen even in Kashmir. Can we now say Kashmir is freer than Bengal?” she asked. Joshi added that The Bengal Files is important for people to understand the truth of Bengal’s history. She urged audiences across India to watch the film when it releases on September 5, 2025, which coincides with Teachers’ Day. (India TV)

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Political Row Over The Bengal Files Kolkata Ban

The issue quickly turned political. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) leadership accused Vivek Agnihotri of making politically motivated films aimed at dividing society. Party leaders asked why the director never made films like Gujarat Files or Manipur Files.

On the other hand, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strongly backed Agnihotri. BJP leader and Union Minister of State Sukanta Majumdar alleged that the trailer launch was cancelled due to “political pressure.” Leader of Opposition in Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari, even held a rally in Kolkata on the same day to remember the victims of the Great Calcutta Killings of 1946.

The clash between the ruling TMC and opposition BJP has only added fuel to the fire, making The Bengal Files Kolkata ban not just a film controversy but also a political flashpoint.

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Why the Film Is Controversial

The Bengal Files deals with communal violence in undivided Bengal during the 1940s. According to the filmmakers, it tells the story of the genocide and demographic changes that shaped Bengal’s history. The film features Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, Darshan Kumaar, and Simrat Kaur in leading roles.While supporters believe the film sheds light on forgotten history, critics argue that it may inflame communal tensions. The timing of the trailer launch on August 16, the anniversary of Direct Action Day, also made the subject more sensitive.

 

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Free Speech or Political Pressure?

The The Bengal Files Kolkata ban has raised bigger questions about free speech and censorship in India. Can filmmakers not show their work even in private venues after CBFC clearance? Should politics decide what stories can be told on screen?

For now, the answers remain unclear. What is certain is that Vivek Agnihotri’s film has already stirred nationwide attention even before its release. Whether the movie will face further hurdles or reach theatres smoothly on September 5 remains to be seen. (The Hindu)