Hold onto your popcorn, folks, because Vivek Agnihotri’s upcoming film, ‘Bengal Files,’ is already stirring up a major storm. The director has found himself facing several official complaints even before the movie hits theaters. The latest one comes from Shantanu Mukherjee, the grandson of the famous Bengali figure, Gopal Mukherjee. He has filed a police report against Vivek Agnihotri.
The movie’s trailer launch event in Kolkata recently saw some commotion. Film ‘Bengal Files’ has been caught in a whirl of arguments even before its big release. Shantanu Mukherjee accuses the director of damaging his grandfather’s good name. Gopal Mukherjee was a renowned Bengali leader known for stopping the 1946 riots.
A Family’s Outcry Over a Historical Figure
Gopal Mukherjee’s family is very unhappy with how he is shown in ‘Bengal Files.’ The trailer supposedly calls Gopal Mukherjee “Gopal Patha, the Butcher.” This has angered his family, leading them to file a complaint against the director. Shantanu Mukherjee says his grandfather is unfairly portrayed in the trailer. He insists his grandfather was not a butcher by trade. Instead, he was a strong wrestler and led the Anushilan Samiti. He played a crucial role in stopping those historical riots.
Legal Steps Taken by the Family
Shantanu Mukherjee spoke with the Indian Express about the situation. He shared, “I filed a complaint at my local police station.” He filed it at the Bowbazar Police Station. He added that his lawyer has also sent a formal legal notice to the director for harming his grandfather’s image. According to Shantanu, Vivek Agnihotri never asked the family for permission. He also never tried to meet them before making the film. Shantanu expressed, “The director never asked for our permission. He never tried to meet us or talk about my grandfather.” He felt that offensive words were used against his grandfather.
Vivek Agnihotri Offers His Side of the Story
Meanwhile, Vivek Agnihotri held a press conference in Delhi this past Monday. He cleared the air about the accusations against him. He stated that he did not show Gopal Mukherjee in a bad light in his film. Vivek Agnihotri denied the claims, saying he showed Gopal Mukherjee as a hero in the movie. The film ‘Bengal Files’ is set to open on September 5. It stars Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, Mithun Chakraborty, Umang Kumar, and Saswata Chatterjee in important roles.
“I Respect Him Greatly”
Vivek Agnihotri addressed the argument about Gopal Mukherjee’s portrayal in the film. He said, “I showed him as a hero in the movie.” He explained that he used parts from one of Gopal Mukherjee’s interviews with the BBC. He presented Gopal Mukherjee’s exact words. He knows people in Bengal consider him a hero, and he presented him that way. The director further stated, “I respect him greatly.”
Director Points to Political Angle
Vivek Agnihotri then claimed that Shantanu’s police report was filed due to political pressure. The director said that Shantanu filed the complaint against him and ‘The Bengal Files’ team because he was forced to. Vivek Agnihotri pointed out, “His grandson, Shantanu, works with TMC. That’s the Trinamool Congress, led by Mamata Banerjee.” He added, “He is doing what he has to do.” Agnihotri hinted at the political climate, saying, “You know how Bengal politics is.” He believes Shantanu is being forced to act. Vivek Agnihotri confirmed, “We will respond to them legally.”