The Bengal Files: Pallavi Joshi talks about psychological demands of her role in Vivek Agnihotri's film; 'Emotionally challenging and very draining'

The Bengal Files is now streaming on ZEE5 (OTTplay Premium). In a new interview, Pallavi Joshi opened up about her 'emotionally daunting' role.

Pallavi Joshi in The Bengal Files

The Bengal Files is the third film in Vivek Agnihotri's ‘Files Trilogy.’ The other two movies are: The Kashmir Files and The Tashkent Files. The Bengal Files is finally streaming on ZEE5 (OTTplay Premium) after its theatrical run. The film was generally praised, and Pallavi Joshi's performance received attention. In an interview, Pallavi opened up about the emotional challenges of her role in The Bengal Files.

Pallavi Joshi on her emotionally daunting role in The Bengal Files

Pallavi Joshi played Ma Bharati, a 100-year-old embodiment of the nation’s spirit in The Bengal Files. Opening up about the psychological demands of the role, Joshi told News18 Showsha, “I don’t think there was any one particular scene which was very challenging. The whole character in itself was, I think, very emotionally challenging and very draining because the emotions had to be carried throughout. I couldn’t even drop the ball even once."

She explained that the filming experience was immersive and mentally difficult, and she had to remain mentally alert from start to finish.

Also Read: The Bengal Files OTT Release Date: When and where to watch Vivek Agnihotri's powerful political drama online

Pallavi Joshi on the importance of cinema

The Bengal Files focuses on the true events of the violence and aftermath of the Direct Action Day and the Noakhali riots, portraying them as a genocide. Talking about her fascination with narratives rooted in history, Joshi highlighted the importance of cinema as a medium of unfolding truths.

“As actors and more importantly as a filmmaker, we need to explore new subjects. We need to show people what they haven’t seen before. That’s the whole purpose of cinema — to awaken people, to open their eyes and minds to things they haven’t known or experienced," she said.

Pallavi also added that people have been considerably taken aback with the amount of research they have done. "And the truths that have come out — truths nobody wrote about or taught us. I’ve given myself a pat on my back, saying a job well done, Pallavi. You were able to uncover a few pages and give people something they didn’t know before," she said.

The Bengal Files plot

The Bengal Files centres on the events of Direct Action Day and the subsequent Noakhali riots, aiming to depict the violence as a genocide. The main cast includes Mithun Chakraborty, Pallavi Joshi, Darshan Kumar, Anupam Kher, and Simrat Kaur. Saswata Chatterjee, Namashi Chakraborty, Puneet Issar, and Sourav Das also played key roles. Upon its theatrical release, the film received mixed responses from netizens.

Catch The Bengal Files on ZEE5 and OTTplay Premium!

FAQs

Q: Is The Bengal Files on OTT?

A: Vivek Agnihotri's The Bengal Files is streaming on ZEE5 and OTTplay Premium.

Q: What is the Bengal Files movie based on?

A: The Bengal Files portrays the communal violence that occurred in Bengal, specifically focusing on Direct Action Day (1946) and its aftermath. The film is based on the real-life events of the 1946 Calcutta killings, also known as the Great Calcutta Killings, and the subsequent violence that spread to other parts of the Bengal Presidency, including the Noakhali riots and Tipperah (Comilla).

Q: Who directs The Bengal Files?

A: The Bengal Files is directed by Vivek Agnihotri.

Q: Are The Kashmir Files and The Bengal Files connected?

A: The Bengal Files: Right to Life, initially titled The Delhi Files: The Bengal Story, is the third story after Vivek Agnihotri's The Tashkent Files and The Kashmir Files. It follows a different storyline.

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