Filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri’s ‘The Bengal Files’, the third chapter in his much-talked-about Files Trilogy, after ‘The Tashkent Files’ and ‘The Kashmir Files’ has now released in theatres. This new film delves into yet another dark and painful period of Indian history, the communal violence that shook Bengal in the 1940s. The film is slated to hit theatres on September 5, 2025.According to the latest buzz, the film is also expected to make its way to OTT after its theatrical run. A report by OTTplay suggests that ‘The Bengal Files’ will most likely stream on Zee5, following the same pattern as Agnihotri’s earlier films. Generally, such releases arrive on digital platforms about a month after their big-screen debut, although the final timeline could depend on its box-office journey.Set against the backdrop of real historical events like Direct Action Day (August 16, 1946), the Great Calcutta Killings, and the Noakhali riots, the film weaves these episodes into a fictional narrative centred on a police officer probing a corruption case. The ensemble cast features Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, and Darshan Kumar, who lend their presence and gravitas to the political drama. However, despite its powerful subject and star power, reports suggest the film will not be released in West Bengal, at least for now.On September 2, Agnihotri took to social media with an open appeal to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, requesting her not to impose a ban on the film. He stressed that ‘The Bengal Files’ is “not about spreading hate but rather about confronting truth and seeking healing.”Meanwhile, ‘The Bengal Files’ has clashed today with Tiger Shroff’s ‘Baaghi 4’ and the Hollywood biggie ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’.
