Vivek Agnihotri's film, "The Bengal Files," which depicts the 1946 Great Calcutta Killings, has courted controversy, particularly in West Bengal. While the film was released in other parts of India on Friday, September 5, a scheduled screening in Mumbai's Kanjurmarg area was abruptly cancelled, sparking outrage among moviegoers.

According to an X (formerly Twitter) user, Narayan Parvathy Parasuram, a show at Huma Mall in Kanjurmarg was cancelled despite advance bookings. The user shared a video from the ticket counter, expressing frustration and stating that many people had been waiting to watch the film. The X user wrote, "THE BENGAL FILES first day first show CANCELLED at Moviemax Kanjurmarg inspite of over 50% tickets booked for an early morning show!!!".

In the video, the X user exclaimed, "There are so many people waiting here to watch The Bengal Files, with many still standing in line. People who had booked advance tickets have had their shows randomly cancelled. This is absolutely denounceable. Shivaji Maharaj ka bhoomi hai yeh, Kolkata nahi hai yeh...". This translates to: "This is the land of Shivaji Maharaj, this is not Kolkata". This statement implies that the cancellation was unacceptable in a land known for its cultural values and respect for freedom of expression. Another person mentioned that they were there for the 9 am show, which was cancelled, and there were at least 50 people present for the early morning screening.

Prior to the film's release, the trailer launch in West Bengal faced cancellation due to "political pressure," according to director Vivek Agnihotri. Agnihotri stated that a theatre chain cited "political pressure" as the reason for the cancellation, fearing "political turmoil". He expressed his disappointment, questioning whether there were two separate constitutions in India, one for Indians and another for West Bengal. Agnihotri added that multiple FIRs had been filed against him by members of the ruling party. He also referred to a video where the Chief Minister of West Bengal allegedly threatened to prevent "The Bengal Files" from being screened in the state, calling it a propaganda film.

"The Bengal Files" explores the events surrounding the 1946 Calcutta Killings and the Noakhali massacre. The film has not been released in West Bengal. The cast includes Pallavi Joshi, Mithun Chakraborty, and Anupam Kher.