Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri is seeing red. His new movie, ‘The Bengal Files,’ ran into major trouble. Its trailer launch event in Kolkata was shut down. Agnihotri didn’t hold back, calling the situation pure dictatorship.
The event was meant to be a smooth affair at a private hotel. But controversy is now boiling over. Agnihotri pointed fingers directly at the state government. He urged everyone to stay calm. He then questioned the events. “If this isn’t dictatorship,” he asked, “then what is it?”
He explained what went wrong. People came into the hotel venue. They cut all the power wires. The event was stopped cold. Agnihotri claimed the state’s law and order system has fallen apart. He believes this is why his film is getting so much support. “I don’t know whose orders this is on,” he stated. “But we know who is trying to stop us.” He added that the event had all the necessary checks and approvals. Yet, the hotel management couldn’t explain why they couldn’t continue.
#WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal | ‘The Bengal Files’ director Vivek Agnihotri alleges disruption during trailer launch of his film, he says, ” If this is not dictatorship/fascism, then what is?…Law and order in your state has failed, and this is the reason that everyone supports… pic.twitter.com/rjQc0jh7iR
— ANI (@ANI) August 16, 2025
This isn’t the first hurdle for ‘The Bengal Files.’ Agnihotri noted that theater owners previously canceled the trailer launch. Even after securing full approval for the private hotel event, problems arose. The hotel staff claimed they received “instructions.” They then said they couldn’t show the trailer.
Agnihotri feels something is deeply wrong. “You can see what is happening,” he told reporters. He believes there are “two constitutions” in effect. One is the official constitution. The other is a “special constitution” that only applies in that region. For this very reason, he stressed, ‘The Bengal Files’ is a crucial film for everyone to see.