Vivek Agnihotri, the filmmaker known for the impactful movie ‘The Kashmir Files,’ is currently facing a storm. His upcoming film, ‘The Bengal Files,’ is stirring up a lot of trouble. He claims he and his family are receiving serious threats.
The director says the controversy around ‘The Bengal Files’ is intense. Police reports, called FIRs, have been filed against him. Agnihotri recently revealed that the threats are not just aimed at him, but also at his family. He feels they are being unjustly drawn into the conflict.
The issues began when the film’s trailer launch in Kolkata led to major unrest. Agnihotri spoke to news agency ANI about the difficult situation. He shared that his daughter and son are being targeted. He hasn’t ridden in a car with his children since ‘The Kashmir Files’ came out. That film’s release also brought three fatwas, or religious decrees, against him.
Agnihotri believes making ‘The Bengal Files’ has been even tougher than ‘The Kashmir Files.’ He feels attacked, almost “lynched,” on social media. His wife is also reportedly getting threats. Despite the backlash, he mentioned that his new film aims to celebrate Bengali culture, including its music and food.
A New Name for the Film
Agnihotri also explained why his film’s title changed. It was first called ‘The Delhi Files: Bengal Chapter.’ Early posters used this original name. But he decided to change it to ‘The Bengal Files’ to avoid confusion.
He first went to America in March and April to market the film. He planned to show it there. During his first speech in New Jersey, many people gathered. When he announced ‘The Delhi Files: Bengal Chapter,’ some asked if it was about the Sikh riots or the Delhi riots. He quickly realized there was a big misunderstanding.
To fix this communication problem, Agnihotri sought advice from his audience. He took their suggestions for a new title. This input helped him finalize the name ‘The Bengal Files.’
The film ‘The Bengal Files’ focuses on communal violence. This violence happened in undivided Bengal during the 1940s. The movie is set to release in theaters on September 5th.