When we think about films that take bold steps to unveil suppressed history and make us look back to repressed parts of India’s history, one name certainly made its mark—Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri. Following The Tashkent Files (2019) and The Kashmir Files (2022), Agnihotri has once again crafted another film—The Bengal Files (2025), based on the horrific events in 1946 that became known as the Great Calcutta Killings and Noakhali riots.
While this political drama was released on September 5, 2025, it is more than a film that is a historical account of all the suffering, of the politics, and communal riots Bengal had faced leading up to Indian independence, and also a commentary on today’s world.
The Bengal Files Storyline & Plot
Taking a look at the events of the 1946 Bengal riots, The Bengal Files tracks the story of a criminal investigator who begins his journey by solving a missing person’s case and works through a greater scaffolding of political machinations, corruption, and communal tensions.
The film explores:
- The killings of a possibly genocidal nature in Bengal in 1946.
- Suppressed accounts of horrors suffered by Hindus in Calcutta and Noakhali.
- A compelling story that connects past, present, and future in India’s socio-political journey.
This is not an easy watch- heavy on emotion, heavy on history and heavy on political courage.
Cast & Characaters
One of The Bengal Files best merit is the heavy star cast.
- Mithun Chakraborty as Madman Chatur
- Pallavi Joshi as Maa Bharati
- Darshan Kumar as Shiva Pandit
- Anupam Kher as Mahatma Gandhi
- Simrat Kaur as Bharati
- Saswata Chatterjee as Sardar Husseini, MLA
- Rajesh Khera as Muhammad Ali Jinnah
- Mohan Kapur as Suhrawardy
- Namashi Chakraborty, Puneet Issar, Priyanshu Chatterjee, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, Sourav Das in supporting roles.
From the stand out performances each actor has given, both Mithun Chakraborty, and Pallavi Joshi have given grounds for the show and concentrated the emotional impact.
Production & Release Details
- Director/Writer: Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri
- Budget: ₹32 to ₹35 crores (promotional costs included)
- Run Time: 204 minutes (3 hours, 24 minutes) – one of the longest Indian films.
- Screens: ~1200 worldwide (1000 in India, 200 overseas)
- Box Office Day 1 Collection: ₹1.75 crores (less than The Kashmir Files but anticipation for strong word of mouth)
- Certification: “A” (Adults Only) for graphic violence.
Also worth mentioning, this film project was first announced in 2022 as The Delhi (Files) – The Bengal Chapter, and was renamed The Bengal Files: Right to Life after a public poll in June 2025.
Theme & Historical Significance
Agnihotri’s trilogy is focused on illuminating the hidden truths of Indian history, and The Bengal Files addresses:
- The communal violence of 1946 – largely omitted in history textbooks, resulting in silence in the academic and popular imagination.
- The culpability of political leaders and the decisions they made with respect to Bengal’s upset.
- The lost victims of partition-era violence.
This ensures that the film is more than just a vehicle for entertainment, but lends itself to starting a historical discussion.
OTT Release & Availability
After a theatrical run for The Bengal Files is over, it is also expected to release on Zee5 using the same digital strategy as The Kashmir Files. The OTT premiere release will likely be around October 2025.
Summary
If you enjoyed The Tashkent Files and The Kashmir Files, this final chapter provides the same closure. At 3 hours and 24 minutes, it can feel exhausting, but its thorough examination of Bengal’s untold stories is well worth it for fans of history and political drama.
✔️ Pros: Powerful performances, unapologetic storytelling, factual history.
❌ Cons: Length of the film, graphic violence may not suit all watch parties.
⭐ Rating: 4/5 – A cinematic jab at India’s forgotten history.
