Pallavi Joshi Appeals to President Murmu After Bengal Theatres Refuse Release of The Bengal Files

Producer Pallavi Joshi has made an urgent appeal to President Droupadi Murmu after theatres across West Bengal refused to screen her film, The Bengal Files. Set for release on September 5, the movie, directed by Vivek Agnihotri, faces what Joshi describes as an “unofficial ban” under political pressure, with multiplex owners allegedly intimidated by the ruling party’s workers against screening the film. Joshi, in an open letter shared via social media, claimed that FIRs had been lodged against the makers, their trailer launch was blocked by police, advertisements were refused by newspapers, and her family received regular threats.

The Bengal Files, the final installment of Agnihotri’s Files Trilogy, seeks to depict controversial historical events like Direct Action Day and the Noakhali massacre. Joshi pleaded with President Murmu to safeguard her constitutional rights and allow the film’s peaceful release in Bengal, emphasizing the importance of free expression and art. The cast includes Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Saswata Chatterjee, and others. The situation has ignited a national debate over censorship and political influence on cinema, as supporters and Bengali organizations rally behind the filmmakers seeking justice and artistic freedom.