Vivek Agnihotri’s The Bengal Files released in theatres today. While the film has not been released in West Bengal, audiences across the country are praising it for bringing to light the horrors of the 1946 Great Calcutta Killings.
Many viewers described the film as “a mirror” to Bengal’s blood-soaked past, arguing that these stories were deliberately buried from public memory.
The film boasts a strong ensemble cast including Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, Darshan Kumar, Saswata Chatterjee, Simratt Kaur, Namashi Chakraborty, and others.
Among them, Simratt Kaur’s portrayal of Bharati Banerjee has drawn particular acclaim. Netizens called her monologue “mind-blowing,” with several dubbing it a “performance of a lifetime.”
Pallavi Joshi, Namashi and Mithun Chakraborty also received high praise for their impactful roles.
Social media reactions have been intense, with users calling the film “a gut-wrenching experience that shakes your soul.”
One X user wrote, “This is not just cinema… it’s HISTORY on screen. Unmissable & unforgettable!”
Another urged every Indian to watch the film to understand the pain of Partition and Direct Action Day, calling it a must-watch that blends gripping storytelling with emotional power.
While this is the case, the film faced a setback when its morning show was abruptly cancelled at Moviemax, Huma Mall in Kanjurmarg, Mumbai. Despite more than half the tickets being booked, audience members claimed that the 9 am screening was called off, leaving around 50 people waiting. Videos shared online showed frustration among viewers who had booked in advance.
The film, which depicts the 1946 Great Calcutta Killings, has not been released in West Bengal, with allegations of intimidation of theatre owners.
Actor Pallavi Joshi, who also stars in the film, wrote to President Droupadi Murmu claiming an “unofficial ban,” citing police actions, threats and refusal of newspapers to carry ads. She argued that theatre owners were being pressured not to screen the film.
The Bengal Files, the final installment in the “Files Trilogy,” portrays accounts of violence during Direct Action Day, Noakhali and Partition.
Some audience in Mumbai posted on social media stating, "This is Chatrapathi Shivaji's land, not Kolkata, to cancel a film show like this".
