Vivek Agnihotri reaches out to PM Modi over The Bengal Files' release in West Bengal - Official letter
Before Vivek Agnihotri reached out to PM Modi over The Bengal Files' release in West Bengal, his wife and co-producer/actor of the movie Pallavi Joshi wrote to the President.
Last Updated: 07.13 PM, Sep 09, 2025
Vivek Agnihotri's The Bengal Files continues to face unofficial ban in West Bengal. Owing to this, the filmmaker has now reached out to PM Modi through a letter. This is a letter penned down by Indian Motion Picture Producers' Association (IMPPA). Here's everything you need to know...
Vivek Agnihotri writes to PM Modi over The Bengal Files ban in West Bengal
Through the letter, Vivek Agnihotri points out the unofficial ban on The Bengal Files in West Bengal. The letter addresses how the film has been cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for screening across India, but the unofficial ban is still affecting the screening in Bengal. "The producers and distributors are facing intimidation and obstacles, while the State Government has failed to ensure the basic safety and law and order environment necessary for the free and fair release of the film," a part of the letter read. The same further points at the financial losses for producers, distributors and 'industry as a whole.'
Pallavi Joshi wrote to President Droupadi Murmu recently
Agnihotri's wife and The Bengal Files producer-actress Pallavi Joshi had also directly written a letter to President Droupadi Murmu for the release of The Bengal Files in West Bengal. However, since there was no response, days later, Vivek Agnihotri wrote to PM Modi with the same ask.
Why is The Bengal Files banned in West Bengal?
The Bengal Files faces an unofficial ban in West Bengal, according to the claims made by Vivek Agnihotri. The film's trailer launch was, as per visuals displayed, disrupted. The cops surrounded the theatre where the trailer was displayed and the event was cut short. The venue for the launch was also changed at the end moment and Vivek Agnihotri reports that it was after an intimidation tactic, where he was told that the trailer launch could not happen at the venue booked prior.
The Bengal Files has released in limited screens across India. The release in West Bengal still remains uncertain at this point.
FAQs
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.