TMC’s Kunal Ghosh denies political pressure over Vivek Agnihotri’s ‘The Bengal Files’

By A Staff Reporter

Kolkata: Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Kunal Ghosh on Wednesday dismissed allegations of political interference in the possible non-screening of filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri’s upcoming movie The Bengal Files. His remarks came after Agnihotri appealed to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee not to impose a ban on the film.

“There is no political pressure. If he thinks that nobody knows in Bengal what kinds of provocative movies the filmmakers are making, he is mistaken. The hall owners and distributors take their own decision. If they decide not to show these movies, it is their decision, there is no politics in it,” Ghosh said.

Taking aim at the filmmaker, the TMC leader questioned why Agnihotri had not made films on other sensitive incidents. “Where was Vivek Agnihotri when the Godhra riots happened, why didn’t he make Gujarat Files? Similarly, when Manipur was burning, why didn’t he make Manipur Files?” Ghosh asked.

The controversy comes amid a larger debate on films inspired by historical or political events, with supporters hailing them as an exercise in truth-telling while critics call them provocative. Agnihotri, known for movies such as The Kashmir Files, has claimed that attempts are being made to prevent The Bengal Files from reaching audiences.