Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri became a household name after the release of his film The Kashmir Files. Currently enjoying the release of his film The Bengal Files, reportedly, the last instalment of his Files trilogy, the movie is facing a ban from the state of West Bengal. Days before the movie was released, the makers had expressed how the theatre owners were facing political pressure, which led them to refuse screenings of the movie. Now, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has expressed deep concerns over the same.
Reacting to the undeclared ban on The Bengal Files, FWIC released a press release on Monday. Quoted by the Free Press Journal, they wrote, “It is shocking that a film which has been duly certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) is facing such an undeclared ban. This is clearly against the law and undermines the very framework laid down for regulating film exhibition in India.”
SEE ALSO: The Bengal Files Box Office Collection: Vivek Agnihotri’s Directorial Disappoints With Mere ₹1.7 Cr On Day 1
For those who don’t know, the FWICE represents 36 affiliated associations and scores of members across the film and television industry. In their statement, they went on to condemn the act and stated that, whether directly or indirectly, it is a strike to the constitutional right to freedom of expression. They went on to add that this also undermined the creative liberty of filmmakers who have dedicated their talent, resources, and hard work to bring such important stories to the big screen.
Concluding their statement, FWICE stated, “We appeal to all theatre owners in West Bengal to immediately begin screening Bengal Files. The film represents significant investment, effort, and artistic labour of the filmmakers, and its audience deserves the opportunity to view it freely.”
SEE ALSO: The Bengal Files First Reviews: Netizens Call Vivek Agnihotri’s Film Hard-Hitting, Intense; Praise Pallavi Joshi
For those who don’t know, The Bengal Files was originally announced as a part of his Files trilogy, after the success of his previous two films, The Tashkent Files (2019) and The Kashmir Files (2022). Initially under the working title of The Delhi Files, Agnihotri later announced the film under the title The Bengal Files.
Written and directed by Vivek Agnihotri, the movie is produced by Abhishek Agarwal and Pallavi Joshi under the banners I Am Buddha Productions and Abhishek Agarwal Arts, along with Tej Narayan Agarwal. Scheduled for a release on September 5, 2025, the movie stars Mithun Chakraborty, Pallavi Joshi, Anupam Kher, and Darshan Kumar.
