Vivek Agnihotri Appeals to Mamata Banerjee Not to Ban The Bengal Files
Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri has appealed to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee not to impose a ban on his upcoming film The Bengal Files. Stressing that the film should be judged on its artistic value rather than political implications, Agnihotri highlighted the importance of freedom of expression as a cornerstone of democracy. In a video message shared on social media, he directly addressed the West Bengal CM, urging her to see the film as part of a larger national conversation rather than through a regional lens. He insisted that audiences must have the freedom to form their own opinions about the film’s content. Alongside the video, Agnihotri wrote: “URGENT: An open appeal to Hon’ble CM @MamataOfficial. Please listen till the end and share widely as your protest against the banning of a film on Hindu Genocide. #TheBengalFiles In cinemas 05 September 2025 (sic).” His plea comes amid rising demands to ban the film in West Bengal, which also resulted in the cancellation of its trailer launch and press events in Kolkata. The Bengal Files depicts the events of the Great Calcutta Killings of 1946, including Direct Action Day and the Noakhali riots. The film features a prominent ensemble cast including Anupam Kher, Mithun Chakraborty, Darshan Kumar, Simrat Kaur, Namoshi Chakraborty, and Pallavi Joshi. Speaking to IndiaToday.in, Agnihotri said, “It’s very important that I make this film, make the younger generation aware, enlighten them. And also, the entire community gets to express a generational trauma.” Reflecting on his earlier work, The Kashmir Files, Agnihotri compared his role as a filmmaker to that of a psychiatrist for Indian society. “Acknowledgement of the trauma is the first step towards healing. With The Kashmir Files, Kashmiri Pandits told me my film started their healing. So yes, you can say I’m a filmmaker-psychiatrist,” he remarked with a laugh. The Bengal Files is scheduled for release on September 5, 2025.
