The trailer launch of Vivek Agnihotri’s highly debated propaganda film The Bengal Files, which portrays the 1946 Calcutta communal riots, was abruptly stopped on Saturday at a luxury hotel in Kolkata. Given the sensitive subject and anticipated backlash, the move was not unexpected. West Bengal’s ruling All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), known for its firm stance on protecting minority communities, appears to be behind the decision.
A senior Trinamool leader and veteran actor, speaking anonymously, told this reporter, “It is unlikely that Agnihotri’s film will see a release in West Bengal. He has a reputation for controversy. His earlier film, The Kashmir Files, fueled disturbing anti-Muslim sentiments, which will not be tolerated here.”
In response, Vivek Agnihotri took to social media, expressing his dismay: “With anguish I inform you: Today West Bengal police, on orders of ‘top authorities’, illegally stopped the trailer of #TheBengalFiles. First theatres, now even a private hotel.”Further commenting on the controversy, Agnihotri stated, “Who fears the truth about the Hindu genocide? And why?
Democracy is dead in the land of Tagore and Vivekananda. The trailer is being viewed nationwide, but since the story is set in Bengal, we wanted to launch it here. They don’t want the atrocities against Bengali Hindus in 1946 or the resistance led by figures like Gopal Mukherjee portrayed on screen. If this is history, do they want to rewrite it? The only reason can be to ignore the conspiracy to divide Bengal again.
”Veteran actor Anupam Kher, who plays Mahatma Gandhi in The Bengal Files, also voiced his support. In an exclusive conversation, Kher said, “The Bengal Files tells only the truth. Why fear the truth?” Afterall, he has worked in most of the films, which are categorized as propaganda movies. Stay tuned to know more about it and others only with us. If you have anything to share, do comment below and share your thoughts.
