A Filmmaker’s Appeal
Vivek Agnihotri, the director who never shies away from telling the toughest truths, has once again shown courage. Ahead of the September 5 release of his much-anticipated The Bengal Files, Agnihotri issued a video message to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
With calm but firm words, he said, “I appeal to you with folded hands; please don’t ban this film. Please don’t suppress an important part of history before the next generation.”
While theater owners across Bengal are reportedly being threatened against screening the film, Agnihotri has kept his stance clear—cinema must remain a medium of truth, not political control.
Political Pressure vs. People’s Right to Know
Agnihotri minced no words in reminding Banerjee of her constitutional duty. “You have taken an oath on the Indian Constitution to protect the rights of every citizen, the right of free speech. It is your responsibility to see to it that the film does not face any disruption. Please consider the fact that the CBFC has cleared this film,” he reminded her.
If a democratically elected government cannot even ensure a peaceful film release, one is forced to ask—what is it afraid of? Agnihotri’s message cuts through the political silence: a government cannot bully theater owners and call it democracy.
History Cannot Be Buried
Countering the argument that the film might reopen wounds, Agnihotri asked a piercing question: “If a Japanese child should know about the Hiroshima and Nagasaki holocausts, why not have the new generation be made aware of Bengal’s and India’s history?”
His conviction was unshakable: “A true Bengali will not ban the movie. This film cannot be banned in Bengal.” In a state that once led India in art, literature, and sacrifice, Mamata’s attempt to muzzle a filmmaker exposes a glaring contradiction.
Why Selective Outrage?
Agnihotri went further, asking why Hindu suffering should be hidden when global cinema freely depicts the persecution of Muslims, Christians, and Dalits. “Why should we keep Hindu genocide under wraps? Why should we wish to keep lies alive?” he demanded.
By raising these questions, Agnihotri is not just defending his film—he is defending truth itself.
A Trilogy That Challenges Silence
The Bengal Files, starring Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, Saswata Chatterjee, and Darshan Kumarr, is the third installment of Agnihotri’s Files trilogy, after The Tashkent Files and The Kashmir Files. Each film has sparked conversations and awareness—qualities missing from much of mainstream cinema today.
Agnihotri has made it clear: censorship, threats, and political muscle cannot erase history. With The Bengal Files, he is once again standing tall against a system that fears truth more than lies.