Vivek Agnihotri makes shocking claims that 'Top Authorities' attempted to stop The Bengal Files Trailer

Vivek Agnihotri criticized the Mamata government regarding the disruption at The Bengal Files trailer launch in Kolkata. He suggested the incident was pre-planned and implied that such a large-scale event, attended by 150-200 people and the media, couldn't be halted without official backing.

On August 16th in Kolkata, the trailer screening at the ITC Royal Bengal was abruptly halted. Speaking to ANI, Agnihotri explained that the trailer launch was proceeding without issue until the visuals on the large LED screen were abruptly stopped. He asserted that it was impossible for an event in "one of India’s biggest five-star hotels," with "150-200 people" and media present, to be halted without official involvement. The director also mentioned he was informed that "top authorities" had raised objections to certain parts of the trailer, and as a result, it couldn't be played.

“In one of India’s biggest five-star hotels, imagine there is such a big LED screen, the whole program is running, the visuals are playing. And the entire media of Kolkata, 150-200 people, are sitting and running the program. Is it possible to do this without permission? It is not possible," the filmmaker told ANI.

“Look, governments in India have so many loopholes, and the government has so many powers. They can take anything out whenever they want…What happened was a man came and cut the wire…..It was already planned."

“I made a mistake. Many people were writing that they wouldn’t let me stay here. The multiplex where we were planning to hold the event was cancelled. As soon as I landed at the airport, I found out that it was cancelled. We contacted another multiplex, and it was cancelled, too. They said that they wouldn’t be able to survive politically if they showed the trailer here," he further said.

“So, this happened with the hotel. Same thing. I asked them, ‘Who has refused?’ They said, ‘Top authorities.’ That same reliable source then told me that they had a problem with a couple of things in the trailer, and that’s why it was stopped," Agnihotri added.

When questioned about the film's release in Bengal, the filmmaker stated he hoped the government wouldn't "take away the rights of their own people." However, if the release is blocked, Agnihotri said he trusts the "Constitution of India and the law of India," and would fight for the film’s release if necessary.

“I hope God gives them wisdom. And that they don’t do such foolish things where they take away the rights of their own people. They shouldn’t do that. But if that happens, then I will say that I have a lot of faith in the Constitution of India and the law of India. And I will fight for it."

The Bengal Files delves into the communal violence of the 1940s in undivided Bengal, including the 1946 Direct Action Day and the Noakhali riots, which are described as a Hindu genocide. The film is scheduled for release on September 5th.