The trailer launch of Vivek Agnihotri's upcoming film, "The Bengal Files," in Kolkata has ignited a significant controversy, with the director himself alleging attempts to stifle the film's release due to political motivations. The film delves into the communal violence that plagued Bengal during the 1940s, specifically focusing on the Great Calcutta Killings (Direct Action Day) and the Noakhali riots. These events, which occurred in 1946, were triggered by the All-India Muslim League's call for "Direct Action Day," demanding a separate Muslim homeland and resulting in widespread violence, primarily targeting the Hindu population in Calcutta (now Kolkata).

Agnihotri claims that the authorities disrupted the trailer launch event, which was initially scheduled to take place at a leading cinema hall in Kolkata. However, the theater chain reportedly cancelled the event, allegedly under "political pressure". The event was then moved to a private hotel, where Agnihotri alleges that attempts were made to stall the trailer launch, including cutting wires and disrupting the power supply. He also stated that police officers attempted to halt the launch. According to Agnihotri, the screening of a CBFC (Central Board of Film Certification)-approved trailer was stopped, which he described as "dictatorship and fascism".

In response to the disruptions, Agnihotri has openly criticized the TMC (Trinamool Congress) government, suggesting that those who were once protectors are now acting as oppressors. He questioned who was trying to suppress the film and prevent its message from being disseminated. Agnihotri also alluded to FIRs and ongoing legal battles, further emphasizing the challenges he is facing in bringing "The Bengal Files" to the public. He said that the film talks about demography change and the state empowers demography change and that he cannot be silenced.

However, a Kolkata Police officer stated that Agnihotri did not obtain permission for public screening and violated Section 3 of the West Bengal Cinemas (Regulation) Act, 1954, which controls film exhibitions in the state. A source at the hotel said police had stopped the screening and it did not have any role to play. A spokesperson of ITC Royal Bengal said that they extended full cooperation and all relevant information has been shared with the authorities who are investigating the matter. Police stated that a team had gone to the hotel to check whether necessary permissions were in place for public film screening.

The controversy has drawn reactions from political figures. Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of suppressing the film's release, alleging that she does not want the real history to come out. He added that it is a democracy and one cannot resist anyone from making films. TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh responded by saying that the film is a political video made as part of a pre-election political assignment and that Vivek Agnihotri has mortgaged his conscience to the BJP.

Adding another layer to the controversy, a police complaint has been filed against Vivek Agnihotri regarding the film's portrayal of Gopal Mukherjee, a figure known for his role in stopping the 1946 riots. Shantanu Mukherjee, Gopal's grandson, alleges that the film distorts his grandfather's identity by portraying him as "Ek Tha Kashai Gopal Patha," which translates to "There was a Butcher Gopal Patha". Shantanu asserts that his grandfather was not a butcher but a wrestler and a key figure in the Anushilan Samiti, who played a crucial role in preventing Muslim League riots in 1946. He also stated that his grandfather was a part of the freedom movement, whose ideology matched with Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and worked with several notable freedom fighters. Shantanu has sent a legal notice to the director, demanding an apology for the alleged distortion of his grandfather's character and has filed an FIR.

"The Bengal Files" is the third film in Agnihotri's "Files" trilogy, following "The Tashkent Files" and "The Kashmir Files". The film is slated to release nationwide on September 27 and stars Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, and Darshan Kumaar.