The release of Vivek Agnihotri’s much-anticipated film The Bengal Files is facing significant resistance in West Bengal, with multiplex owners reportedly refusing to screen it due to political pressure and threats from the ruling party. Producer and actress Pallavi Joshi, in an urgent appeal, has sought the intervention of President Droupadi Murmu to uphold her constitutional rights and ensure the film’s release in the state.
In an open letter shared via Instagram, Joshi expressed her distress, writing: “As the producer of The Bengal Files, I am pained that multiplex chains in Bengal have refused the film’s release under political pressure and threats by the ruling party. I plead for your intervention to uphold my constitutional rights and ensure its release in Bengal.”
Joshi also tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in her post, highlighting the ongoing challenges the film faces in the state.
The letter, addressed to President Murmu, describes the difficulties Joshi and her team have encountered leading up to the release of the film. “The Bengal Files,” which focuses on the Hindu genocide during Direct Action Day, the Noakhali riots, and the Partition of India, is set to release on September 5, 2025. However, Joshi shares that political opposition and intimidation have made it nearly impossible to screen the film in the state. Despite no official ban, multiplex owners are reportedly fearing violence from political party workers, leading to what Joshi describes as an “unofficial ban.”
She writes: “Years before completion, the Chief Minister mocked the film. Since then, baseless FIRs have been filed, our trailer was blocked by police, and even newspapers avoid carrying ads. My family is threatened every day by political party workers.” She adds that theatre owners are now intimidated into not screening the film, fearing retaliation from the ruling party’s supporters.
Joshi further emphasizes that the support from Padma Bhushan actor Victor Banerjee and Bengali organizations across the world shows that the truth portrayed in the film has allies. “The Bengal Files is the cry of Maa Bharati, scarred yet unbroken, a story of survival and hope,” Joshi stated. She appealed to President Murmu, who rose from humble beginnings to the highest constitutional office, to understand the importance of protecting such films, not just as a favor, but as a fundamental right for truth and artistic expression.
In her emotional plea, Joshi concluded: “You are my final hope. Please protect our constitutional right and let The Bengal Files be shown in West Bengal peacefully.”
The film, starring Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Darshan Kumar, and several other notable actors, is part of a trilogy by Agnihotri that explores sensitive historical events. The film has sparked controversy, with a trailer launch event in Kolkata recently being abruptly halted by police, further fueling the debate around its release.
Joshi’s appeal underscores the ongoing tension between freedom of expression and political interference, with the producer calling on the highest constitutional authority to safeguard the right to screen the film in West Bengal.
