The buzz around Vivek Agnihotri’s upcoming film, ‘The Bengal Files,’ is getting louder, and not just because of its imminent release. The movie, starring Pallavi Joshi, has already sparked conversations and controversies. Recently, both Agnihotri and Joshi sat down with Amar Ujala to talk about the project. They shared some pretty intense details about the story, which they believe will truly resonate with audiences.
Agnihotri mentioned that ‘The Bengal Files’ actually packs a more emotional punch than his previous hit, ‘The Kashmir Files.’ Joshi agrees, calling it a story that belongs to every single person. The creative duo made a visit to the Amar Ujala office, where they opened up about the film’s challenging narrative. Early viewers have even reported being deeply affected, saying they couldn’t sleep after watching it. Agnihotri pointed out that it’s frustrating to see historical communal politics still affecting things, especially when these painful events are often kept from public knowledge.
Behind the Scenes: Crafting a Story Six Times Over
When asked about the extensive research for ‘The Bengal Files,’ Joshi revealed just how much work goes into their projects. She explained their process: they dig through old newspapers and articles from the time period. They also chat with politicians and collect widely known statements. If anyone from that era is still alive, they track them down for interviews. Historians and educators also lend their insights. After gathering all this information, they look for common threads, which they then accept as the truth.
Joshi emphasized that they end up with a huge amount of research. It’s Vivek Agnihotri’s job to then weave all that into a cohesive story. For ‘The Bengal Files,’ they actually wrote the script six times. Each draft saw changes to the story and its characters. Agnihotri confessed that these rewrites often happened because Joshi would feel something was still missing. He knew the story wasn’t quite right until she gave her full approval. He even made tweaks after the film had been passed by the censor board. He firmly believes movies should be made for the audience, aiming to keep them glued to their seats for a full three hours. ‘The Bengal Files’ touches on events like Direct Action Day and the Noakhali Massacre, which many people don’t even know about. When audiences see these moments on screen, their first reaction is often disbelief, wondering how such things could have happened.
Casting Choices and Powerful Performances
The casting process for such an intense film was quite a journey. Joshi initially turned down the role of Maa Bharati, suggesting they cast an older actress. But she eventually took on the part. She worked hard to transform herself, even changing her posture and walking style. She’s eager to hear how audiences react, calling it the best role of her entire career. Agnihotri confirmed that everyone who has seen the film so far has been deeply moved by Maa Bharati’s character, with many crying during her scenes. He credits Joshi for bringing the role to life so authentically.
For the crucial role of Mahatma Gandhi, veteran actor Anupam Kher first said no. They had already considered another Gujarati actor. But Kher later agreed and dedicated an entire year to preparing. He gave up sweets and changed his diet to truly embody Gandhi’s appearance. And as for Mithun Chakraborty, Agnihotri promised that viewers will be amazed by how he brought his character to life. He believes actors are like magicians, breathing soul into their roles and making audiences believe in the truth of what they see.
Unveiling History and Facing Controversy
The film tackles a very sensitive topic, and the question is: why now? Joshi insists that ‘The Bengal Files’ isn’t just for Bengalis, just as ‘The Kashmir Files’ wasn’t only for Kashmiris. Both are stories for everyone. She shared her own experience of being prevented from visiting Bengal due to political reasons. She believes a lot of history has been deliberately hidden from us, not just a few facts, but an entire narrative. Her son, for example, learned about Direct Action Day in just one line in a book. Many people don’t even know if Direct Action Day or the Noakhali Massacre actually happened. Joshi feels it’s their duty to make people aware of these events, and she’s incredibly proud of Agnihotri for taking on this task.
Agnihotri echoed Joshi’s sentiments, stating that the history we’ve been taught is often inaccurate. He pointed out that accounts of Noakhali often simplify it as just riots in Kolkata. He explained that a controversial statement by Jinnah ignited the events, as Jinnah wished for Bengal’s partition and its inclusion in Pakistan. Agnihotri believes problems can’t be solved if they aren’t discussed openly. He feels the current system often just pastes “everything is fine” signs over deep issues. He wants his films to tear down those signs, revealing the cracks and urging people to repair them. He also lamented that the country remains divided by vote-bank politics, which he believes is why his film is not being allowed to release in Bengal.
Naturally, a film like this attracts its share of controversy. Agnihotri commented that throughout history, speaking the truth has always stirred up trouble. He referenced Socrates, who drank poison for speaking his truth. He even quoted a line from his film ‘The Tashkent Files’: “People don’t want the truth; they want to hear the story of the truth.” Despite the hurdles, the film’s team is seeing a powerful response. Agnihotri mentioned receiving countless messages, especially from Bengali people. Many are writing on his social media that they’re taking September 5th off work. If ‘The Bengal Files’ doesn’t release where they are, they plan to travel to Odisha to watch it. He shared stories of fathers who haven’t seen a movie in seven years, now urging their families, “Come back, we need to see ‘The Bengal Files’.” There’s a huge wave of excitement, and audiences are eagerly waiting for the film’s release.