Kolkata: Director of ' Bengal Files,' Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri, expressed concern on Saturday over demographic changes in Bengal, stating that illegal immigrants are now empowered by the state with fake documents and identity cards.
He also claimed that West Bengal has become the new Kashmir. "The demographic changes that began during the 1946 Bengal killings continue to pose a major threat to the state. As far as demography is concerned,” Agnihotri said, “the Partition happened because of demographic change. The Muslim League announced that the partition has just begun and not ended; it is an unfinished project."
"In Kashmir, demography has changed inch by inch, and we can see what has happened now. In Bengal, demographics started changing in Noakhali and in Kolkata. It is happening even now. Now, illegal immigrants are empowered by state power with fake documents and identity cards. Bengal has become a new Kashmir. What you saw in Murshidabad was just a trailer; the picture is still to come,” the director told ET.
When asked about West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s fight for Bengal's 'asmita,' Agnihotri stated, “On August 16, 1946, one of the most gruesome genocides took place here. Instead of paying homage and tribute to all the people who lost their lives, she is celebrating the 'Khela Hobe' diwas today. This is the first sign of hypocrisy. She does not care about Bengal; she cares about her slogan."
"I appeal to the media: if she is really concerned about Bengal’s culture, she should change the name of Suhrawardy Avenue. In Germany, can you find a Hitler Street? Calcutta has Suhrawardy Avenue. I appeal to her to change the name of Suhrawardy Avenue to Gopal Mukherjee Avenue.”
Major trouble erupted during the trailer launch of “The Bengal Files,” directed by Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri, at a five-star hotel in Kolkata, which was halted repeatedly on Saturday. “Democracy is dead in Bengal. The police have no excuse. They told me that we cannot show it. Bengal has its own Constitution—one is ours and one is Bengal’s,” the director said. “Please don’t give me bureaucratic excuses,” Agnihotri added.
The launch was reportedly halted twice amid major chaos, with electrical wires inside the hotel reportedly disconnected to prevent the screening of the trailer. Major confusion broke out when police entered the hotel ballroom to stop the trailer launch for the second time, leading to heated discussions. When a police team entered and stopped the trailer release, Agnihotri argued with a senior IPS officer, asking, “Why were we not informed about the KMC permission in the morning, and why were party workers standing outside the hotel?”
A police team entered the ballroom of the hotel just as the trailer started for the second time, and he had a heated debate over the stoppage. The trailer was suddenly stopped midway twice. “Why are the police here this morning? Are we thieves? If you think we did not have permission, you could have told us in the morning. Why are the police stopping us in the middle of a running show? Today is August 16—Direct Action Day—and our voice has been suppressed,” the director told a senior IPS officer who entered the hotel with his team and stopped the show.
The police did not comment on the incident inside the hotel. The hotel’s corporate communications head stated that it was stopped due to the lack of KMC permission and that the hall was booked for a press conference.
Twice, the hotel manager entered the ballroom and had earlier told Agnihotri to stop the trailer. Once the wires were disconnected, the screening was halted. Agnihotri was later escorted out of the hotel by his private security team. He mentioned that multiple FIRs have been lodged by the administration, and he is determined to screen the movie in the state.
The trailer of ' The Bengal Files' was unveiled in Kolkata and stopped twice. The film explores the turbulent events of 1946 in Bengal, including communal killings and the partition of the region, marking the final chapter in Agnihotri’s “Files Trilogy,” which also includes 'The Tashkent Files' (2019) and 'The Kashmir Files' (2022).
“The film is about uniting everybody; it is about you and me. It is about Bharat and the voice of democracy. Why is there an attempt to throttle our voice?” the director said.
The movie depicts the turbulent 1946 killings and partition of Bengal. The renowned filmmaker of 'Kashmir Files' and 'Tashkent Files,' Agnihotri’s 'Bengal Files' is set to be released in theaters on September 5.
He also claimed that West Bengal has become the new Kashmir. "The demographic changes that began during the 1946 Bengal killings continue to pose a major threat to the state. As far as demography is concerned,” Agnihotri said, “the Partition happened because of demographic change. The Muslim League announced that the partition has just begun and not ended; it is an unfinished project."
"In Kashmir, demography has changed inch by inch, and we can see what has happened now. In Bengal, demographics started changing in Noakhali and in Kolkata. It is happening even now. Now, illegal immigrants are empowered by state power with fake documents and identity cards. Bengal has become a new Kashmir. What you saw in Murshidabad was just a trailer; the picture is still to come,” the director told ET.
When asked about West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s fight for Bengal's 'asmita,' Agnihotri stated, “On August 16, 1946, one of the most gruesome genocides took place here. Instead of paying homage and tribute to all the people who lost their lives, she is celebrating the 'Khela Hobe' diwas today. This is the first sign of hypocrisy. She does not care about Bengal; she cares about her slogan."
"I appeal to the media: if she is really concerned about Bengal’s culture, she should change the name of Suhrawardy Avenue. In Germany, can you find a Hitler Street? Calcutta has Suhrawardy Avenue. I appeal to her to change the name of Suhrawardy Avenue to Gopal Mukherjee Avenue.”
Major trouble erupted during the trailer launch of “The Bengal Files,” directed by Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri, at a five-star hotel in Kolkata, which was halted repeatedly on Saturday. “Democracy is dead in Bengal. The police have no excuse. They told me that we cannot show it. Bengal has its own Constitution—one is ours and one is Bengal’s,” the director said. “Please don’t give me bureaucratic excuses,” Agnihotri added.
The launch was reportedly halted twice amid major chaos, with electrical wires inside the hotel reportedly disconnected to prevent the screening of the trailer. Major confusion broke out when police entered the hotel ballroom to stop the trailer launch for the second time, leading to heated discussions. When a police team entered and stopped the trailer release, Agnihotri argued with a senior IPS officer, asking, “Why were we not informed about the KMC permission in the morning, and why were party workers standing outside the hotel?”
A police team entered the ballroom of the hotel just as the trailer started for the second time, and he had a heated debate over the stoppage. The trailer was suddenly stopped midway twice. “Why are the police here this morning? Are we thieves? If you think we did not have permission, you could have told us in the morning. Why are the police stopping us in the middle of a running show? Today is August 16—Direct Action Day—and our voice has been suppressed,” the director told a senior IPS officer who entered the hotel with his team and stopped the show.
The police did not comment on the incident inside the hotel. The hotel’s corporate communications head stated that it was stopped due to the lack of KMC permission and that the hall was booked for a press conference.
Twice, the hotel manager entered the ballroom and had earlier told Agnihotri to stop the trailer. Once the wires were disconnected, the screening was halted. Agnihotri was later escorted out of the hotel by his private security team. He mentioned that multiple FIRs have been lodged by the administration, and he is determined to screen the movie in the state.
The trailer of ' The Bengal Files' was unveiled in Kolkata and stopped twice. The film explores the turbulent events of 1946 in Bengal, including communal killings and the partition of the region, marking the final chapter in Agnihotri’s “Files Trilogy,” which also includes 'The Tashkent Files' (2019) and 'The Kashmir Files' (2022).
“The film is about uniting everybody; it is about you and me. It is about Bharat and the voice of democracy. Why is there an attempt to throttle our voice?” the director said.
The movie depicts the turbulent 1946 killings and partition of Bengal. The renowned filmmaker of 'Kashmir Files' and 'Tashkent Files,' Agnihotri’s 'Bengal Files' is set to be released in theaters on September 5.
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