Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri has reacted strongly to the political shift in West Bengal, following the defeat of Mamata Banerjee, using the moment to revisit past controversies surrounding his films.
The Bharatiya Janata Party’s victory in the state, including its win in the Bhabanipur constituency, has triggered a wave of reactions across political and cultural circles. Among them, Agnihotri’s statement stood out for its sharp criticism and personal account of alleged restrictions he faced in West Bengal.
Also Read | BJP appoints Amit Shah as Bengal observer for CM pick as party prepares to form government
In a post shared on Instagram on May 5, the director claimed that he had been “cancelled” in the state after the release of his film The Kashmir Files, alleging that the film was removed from theatres and that he was barred from entering West Bengal.
‘Dozens of FIRs filed’: filmmaker recounts past controversies
Agnihotri also referred to his later project, The Bengal Files, stating that it faced significant hurdles in the state. He alleged that the film’s trailer launch was blocked and that multiple FIRs were filed against him.
“Dozens of FIRs were filed against me. I was cancelled in Bengal. I couldn’t even go to receive my award,” he wrote, describing what he called a sustained campaign against his work.
The filmmaker further claimed that, despite these challenges, he ensured the film reached audiences during the election period through private screenings across the state.
A political moment, a cultural flashpoint
Agnihotri presented the results of the elections as a new era, congratulating the people of West Bengal and quoting a famous verse written by Rabindranath Tagore in his poem titled Where the Mind is Without Fear.
Also Read | ‘Won’t resign’: Mamata Banerjee rejects mandate, alleges conspiracy in Bengal defeat
This statement was made in the light of years-long discussions about the filmmaker’s movies, both of which have faced criticism and praise. These include the film named The Kashmir Files that revolves around the migration of Kashmiri Pandits in the 1990s and The Bengal Files that focuses on the events of Direct Action Day and Noakhali Riots.
The discussion surrounding the two films mainly revolved around whether their historical presentation was right or wrong.
