Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri's The Bengal Files, released on September 5, 2025, revisits the turbulent events of 1946 Bengal, specifically the Great Calcutta Killings, Direct Action Day, and the Noakhali riots. As the third installment in "The Files Trilogy," following The Tashkent Files (2019) and The Kashmir Files (2022), the film aims to shed light on a chapter of Indian history often overlooked.

The film presents a storyline focused on the 1946 Great Calcutta Killings and the Noakhali riots, depicting the violence and its aftermath. It claims that these events were a genocide deliberately suppressed or ignored in historical accounts. The narrative oscillates between the violent past of Bengal and a present-day investigation. Shiva Pandit, an officer searching for a missing young woman, Bharati, uncovers stories of forgotten genocide, exposing communal strife, betrayal, and survival.

The Bengal Files features a cast including Mithun Chakraborty, Pallavi Joshi, Darshan Kumar, Simrat Kaur, Anupam Kher, Saswata Chatterjee, and others. Darshan Kumar portrays Shiva Pandit with emotional strength, while Simrat Kaur embodies the innocence and fragility of the young Bharati. Pallavi Joshi, playing the older Bharati, adds depth to the narrative. Mithun Chakraborty stands out as a deranged ex-policeman, and Anupam Kher and Rajesh Khera make powerful appearances as Mahatma Gandhi and Jinnah, respectively.

Agnihotri's direction is unapologetic, depicting the brutality of Bengal's past with raw visuals. However, the film's pacing has been criticized for dragging at times, with some finding it leans more on shock value than subtlety. Despite this, Agnihotri's conviction makes the story feel urgent, compelling audiences to reflect. The dialogues are sharp and impactful, balancing historical commentary with human emotion, though some delivery occasionally veers into melodrama. The background score enhances the film's atmosphere, blending tension, sorrow, and silence to intensify the emotional impact.

The film has already generated strong reactions, especially from international audiences. Some viewers have described it as a "hard-hitting, gut-wrenching portrayal of the forgotten Hindu genocide in eastern India" and "a wake-up call to remember a history that has been silenced for too long". Journalist Avatans Kumar praised the film's meticulous cinematic portrayal of real events and its vivid depiction of the political turmoil of 1946, including the Noakhali Hindu massacre. Others have noted that the film balances stories from the Partition in northern India with events in eastern India.

However, the film has also faced controversy and political backlash. Prior to its release, Agnihotri appealed to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee not to ban the film. Pallavi Joshi alleged that the film faced an unofficial ban in West Bengal, with theatre owners being intimidated. She wrote to the President of India, urging protection of the film's constitutional right to be viewed.

Saswata Chatterjee distanced himself from the controversy, stating he was unaware of the title change and reiterating that he is an actor, not a historian. Pallavi Joshi suggested that Chatterjee might be facing political pressure.

Despite the controversies, some viewers have described The Bengal Files as a "must-watch for every Indian", highlighting its powerful and emotional storyline. Some netizens consider it not just a film but a mirror reflecting Bengal's blood-soaked past.