Name: The Bengal Files
Genre: Drama, Historical
Released: 2025-09-05
Rating: 6.5
Cast: Mithun Chakraborty, Pallavi Joshi, Anupam Kher, Darshan Kumaar, Simrat Kaur

The story sheds light on untold chapters of Indian history, examining the events of Direct Action Day and the Noakhali massacre, along with their profound impact on the nation's future.

The Bengal Files

Times of India

India Today

‘The Bengal Files’ is a tough watch, the kind of film that makes you squirm in your seat and sit uneasy through its relentless portrayal of violence. The third in Vivek Agnihotri’s “files” trilogy, the film trains its gaze on the mayhem that followed Direct Action Day—the call given by Mohammad Ali Jinnah in 1946 demanding a separate state for Muslims. The subject itself is contentious, and Agnihotri refuses to soften it. What emerges is a historical drama that, while heavy-handed, does bring to light a chapter of Indian history rarely touched upon in popular culture. It frames the story through a contemporary plot involving the disappearance of a journalist in Bengal, using that thread to revisit the horrors of the past. Despite its nearly three-and-a-half-hour length, the film compels you to keep watching, unsettled but engrossed.
The narrative begins with CBI officer Shiva Pandit (Darshan Kumaar), who is tasked with investigating the disappearance of journalist Gita Mandal. Suspicions point toward a local MLA, Sardar Hosseini (Saswata Chatterjee), but despite Shiva’s persistence, the evidence remains elusive. As the case stalls, the story takes an unexpected turn with the introduction of Bharati Banerjee (Pallavi Joshi), an elderly woman whose fading memory becomes the bridge to history. Through her recollections, the film plunges into the pre-partition years, reconstructing Direct Action Day and the Noakhali killings in graphic detail. These sequences transport the viewer into the violence that scarred Bengal, tracing the people, politics, and compulsions that shaped a dark chapter in India’s journey to independence.
Agnihotri is unflinching in his approach. The film squarely blames Jinnah’s stubbornness for Partition and portrays Mahatma Gandhi as a frail leader whose ideology of non-violence is depicted as disastrous in the face of brutality. One particularly jarring moment shows Gandhi being asked by a butcher named Patha how women could defend themselves from assaults, and he suggests they resort to fasting and even death rather than resistance. Whether factually accurate or not, the film uses this to highlight what it views as Gandhi’s failings. Subtlety is not Agnihotri’s strength, and ‘The Bengal Files’ revels in shock value. Scenes of grotesque violence come one after another, culminating in a graphic sequence where a Sikh World War II soldier is tied to two motorcycles and pulled apart. While undeniably difficult to sit through, these moments achieve Agnihotri’s intent: to provoke anger, despair, and reflection. The film’s final stretch, where Pallavi Joshi’s character calls for a gun and voices her wish to kill Ghulam, feels overwrought and tests the audience’s patience.
Darshan Kumaar as Shiva Pandit is believable, portraying a man wrestling with moral dilemmas as he finds himself trapped by the country’s political and bureaucratic machinery. Pallavi Joshi, as Bharati Banerjee, carries a fictional role crafted as a narrative device, but her gravitas lends credibility to the film’s flashbacks. Mithun Chakraborty’s presence is more symbolic, while Anupam Kher as Mahatma Gandhi leaves a mark with a sharp, provocative turn. Rajesh Khera brings Jinnah to life with conviction, and Mohan Kapur embodies the fiery Suhrawardy with force. Simratt Kaur, as the young Bharati, makes a fleeting impression, but it is debutant Eklavya Sood who shines brightest. His portrayal of Amar, the Sikh soldier, is delivered with confidence and emotional power.
Partition stories have often centered on the north-western frontier—Punjab, Sindh, and the horrors of displacement there. The east, and particularly Bengal’s trauma, has seldom received equal attention. Agnihotri taps into this untold narrative, making the audience confront those stories, however uncomfortable it makes them. The film has all the ingredients to spark heated debates: its historical perspective, its blame on certain leaders, and its insistence on dwelling on violence. Yet, amid the excesses, it also manages to connect at an emotional level, offering glimpses into suffering that transcend politics.

Director Vivek Agnihotri's political-thriller 'The Bengal Files' narrates the tale of India's independence and partition from a unique perspective. The film shows how the past, present and the future are interconnected, yet humans refuse to learn from history.

CBI officer Shiva Pandit (Darshan Kumar) investigates the case of a missing girl in modern-day West Bengal, while witnessing communal tensions invoking scars of the 1947 partition. As Shiva comes across the veteran suspect Maa Bharati (Pallavi Joshi), the anecdote of the dark chapter of India's independence shakes his conscience. Agnihotri's non-linear storytelling links the backdrop of the 1946 Direct Action Day and the Noakhali riots to present-day politics. The three-hour, 20-minute film attempts at a metaphorical depiction of politics, religion, justice, equality, national unity and hate-mongering.
Very rarely do filmmakers, especially in India, present unheard, neglected stories about the horrors of partition, one of the byproducts of colonial divide and rule. To show communal violence amid a divisive socio-political landscape is a risky initiative. Does 'The Bengal Files' show an impartial view of West Bengal's history, beliefs, culture and traditions? Is the movie fair and sensitive in dealing with the controversial events of Direct Action Day and the Noakhali riots? How does the film balance the most horrific chapter of India's history which has left intellectuals across academia, politics, media and the arts divided?
Actor Darshan Kumar has only got better with his craft since he gained recognition in 'Mary Kom'. Although there might be similarities with his previous characters in 'Aashram' and 'The Kashmir Files', he brings novelty through his complex emotions. He is backed by veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty and Pallavi Joshi as the supporting cast, who surrender to the filmmaker's vision. However, the pacing of the film and non-linear sequence of going back and forth somehow falters the execution. What could have been an engaging plot gets lost due to the stretched run-time of the political thriller.

Actor Simrat Kaur brings the pain, anger, fear and frustration of a patriot with conviction. Actors Eklavya Sood as Amarjeet Arora and Sourav Das as Gopal Patha offer an intense portrayal despite limited screen time. The film somehow keeps deviating due to the amalgamation of too many stories.
The movie's main theme, gets mixed up in too many entangled stories. A genuine message of enlightening the audience about the uncertainty of ideological leanings and political crimes, fades away due to multiple narratives. What could have been a fair depiction of how politics manipulates public sentiments turns into an attempt at linking the present with past history.
The film's ensemble makes several comments on Right to Life, Right to Justice, Right to Equality, etc. The vision and execution, unfortunately, do not complement each other. Nevertheless, the violence, politics, misery and helplessness of 'We the People of India', will make your heart melt. If the film is seen from a political lens, the perceptions can be subjective. However, from a humane perspective, it is a story about the horrors of lawless democracy.

'The Bengal Files' may have differences of opinion in terms of factual accuracy and authenticity, yet it is a must-watch for those interested in understanding an alternate narrative. It is definitely not meant for the faint-hearted due to the depiction of violence against women and other innocent civilians. Whether you agree or disagree with Agnihotri, his world view has always been open to debates, discussions and opinions. But the film's attempt at telling an emotionally haunting political story is commendable for its unconventional storytelling.

THE BENGAL FILES Teaser | Vivek Agnihotri | Abhishek A | Pallavi J | In Cinemas 5 Sept 2025

Mithun Chakraborty is an Indian actor, producer and politician who predominantly worked in Hindi and Bengali films. He is a former Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament. He is the recipient of two Filmfare Awards and three National Film Awards. 

Mithun Chakraborty

Pallavi Joshi is an Indian film and television actress. She is a recipient of Special Jury Award at the National Film Awards. 

Pallavi Joshi

The current Chairman of Film and Television Institute of India, Anupam Kher’s career spans over three decades. An actor, director and producer, Anupam Kher has been a part of Tamil, Malayalam, Punjabi, Marathi, Chinese and English movies. Married to veteran actor Kirron Kher, Anupam Kher’s most notable performances include Saaransh (1984), A Wednesday (2008), Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), Special 26 (2013) & Khosla Ka Ghosla (2006).

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Best known for directing the 2010 drama film Semshook, Siddharth Anand Kumar`s credentials go beyond filmmaking to screenwriting, production and cinematography. He has helmed the camera for documentaries like My Friend Su (2001) and Speaking Tree (2007), besides bankrolling a handful of Bollywood movies including the internationally acclaimed Ajji (2017). Siddharth has also forayed into television by directing episodes of shows like Seven and Khotey Sikkey.

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Known for his works in Hindi and Bengali cinema, Priyanshu Chatterjee is an actor who debuted with the film Tum Bin in the year 2001. Before entering into films, Chatterjee was a fashion model who worked for various lifestyle brands. Some of his best known Bollywood films include Dil ka Rishta, Pinjar and Bhootnath.

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The Bengal Files(2025)