Mumbai: Filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri, known for addressing sensitive and serious subjects, faced numerous challenges during the making and release of his film ‘The Bengal Files’. The journey was marked by unexpected hurdles, including the sudden demise of production designer Rajat Poddar just before shooting began, as well as strong opposition, threats, attacks in Kolkata, and an unofficial ban in West Bengal during the film’s release.
In an interview, Agnihotri shared, “The year 2025 was a year of struggle for me. Making the film was tough, but losing Rajat Poddar, who was working on grand sets, was a huge shock for the team. Despite that, the team persevered and completed the vision in his memory. We managed to finish the elaborate sets and complete the shooting successfully.”
‘The Bengal Files’ is the third installment in Agnihotri’s ‘Files’ trilogy, following ‘The Tashkent Files’ and ‘The Kashmir Files’. The film depicts the Hindu genocide during the 1946 Direct Action Day, Noakhali riots, and the Partition. The film sparked controversy even before its release.
Agnihotri revealed, “During the film’s release, there were attacks in Kolkata and multiple threats aimed at stopping the film from reaching audiences. Efforts were made at every level to prevent the release. Although the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), a government agency, certified the film, it could not be released in West Bengal. Theatre owners faced pressure, and threats from police and political forces prevented multiplexes and cinema halls from screening it. Even the country’s largest exhibition chain could not release it in Bengal. Despite support from media, activists, and various organizations, all efforts to screen the film in the state failed.”
He added, “Despite the efforts of the middle class, farmers, labourers, social activists, sincere journalists, and filmmakers, certain forces succeeded in blocking everything. This issue requires deep research. The story is about courage, the search for truth, and facing challenges. ‘The Bengal Files’ has proven that while suppressing the truth is easy, bringing it to light is equally difficult. This situation poses a serious challenge to democracy and freedom of speech. Institutions meant to protect freedom of expression have failed in this regard. I consider this a failure of the government. For filmmakers, the lesson is clear: no matter how powerful some forces are, there are some powers that can overpower all.”
Referring to his book ‘Urban Naxal’, Agnihotri said, “Through my writings and book, I have consistently raised my voice against such forces, but this incident deeply affected me. The question arises: how will the new generation fight this, and what future does India have? I am glad that despite all challenges, we did not give up. The film was released, and where it was shown, it made an impact on audiences. People became aware that not only history but also present-day truths are being suppressed.”
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