This Friday, two big movies released, Sajid Nadiadwala’s Baaghi 4, and Vivke Agnihotri’s The Bengal Files. Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri has always been known for films that don’t shy away from uncomfortable truths. After The Tashkent Files and The Kashmir Files, he’s back with another explosive chapter in his “Files” trilogy – The Bengal Files. This time, Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri dives deep into one of the darkest and most painful chapters of Indian history – the Great Calcutta Killings of 1946 and the Noakhali riots.
It stars Pallavi Joshi, Simratt Kaur Randhawa, Mithun Chakraborty, Namashi Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Saswata Chatterjee, Eklavya Sood, Rajesh Khera. The film doesn’t just aim to tell a story; it confronts us with forgotten horrors, reminding us that history has scars we can’t afford to ignore.
The Bengal Files Story
The film weaves two timelines – the bloody Bengal of the 1940s and present-day 2025. In the past, we witness the horrific Direct Action Day led by the Muslim League under Jinnah, where communal violence tore Bengal apart. The brutality, the massacres, and the human cost form the core of this track.
Parallelly, in 2025, CBI officer Shiva Pandit (Darshan Kumaar) is tasked with solving the case of a missing tribal girl. His investigation connects him to Bharti Banerjee (Pallavi Joshi Agnihotri), a woman haunted by memories of the Partition, and to politician Sardar Husseini (Saswata Chatterjee), a dangerous leader with a loyal following. Through Bharti’s fragmented recollections, Shiva begins to uncover the haunting truths of Bengal’s past, forcing the audience to question—have we truly learned from history?
The Bengal Files Review
The Bengal Files is raw, unfiltered, and gut-wrenching. The research that has gone into documenting the Direct Action Day horrors is remarkable, and Vivek Agnihotri once again proves his intent to use cinema as a tool for truth-telling. His research of the film is brilliant.
The film is powerful, but at times weighed down by its own length. At 3 hours and 25 minutes, it feels stretched, and a tighter edit could have made the impact sharper. Still, the film succeeds in delivering a disturbing yet necessary reminder of forgotten atrocities. The background score by Rohit Sharma adds weight to the tension, using Bengali melodies to keep the setting authentic and emotionally charged.
The Bengal Files Performances
The strength of this film lies in its powerhouse performances. Pallavi Joshi, as the elderly Bharti Banerjee, is simply outstanding, while Simratt Kaur Randhawa, playing her younger version, is a revelation—graceful, fiery, and deeply moving.
Mithun Chakraborty is exceptional as the broken, cynical cop, while Namashi Chakraborty terrifies as the ruthless Ghulam. Saswata Chatterjee plays the menacing Husseini with chilling conviction.
Darshan Kumaar brings sincerity to his role as the CBI officer, though some of his emotional scenes lack intensity. Eklavya Sood impresses as Amar Singh Rathod, while Anupam Kher’s portrayal of Gandhi and Rajesh Khera’s Jinnah are effective and layered. Overall, the cast breathes life into Agnihotri’s vision, ensuring the film feels authentic and impactful.
Final Verdict
The Bengal Files is not just a movie—it’s an experience. Brutal, haunting, and unapologetic, it forces the audience to confront a part of history that many would rather forget. Yes, the runtime could have been shorter, but the storytelling, performances, and sheer intensity make it one of Vivek Agnihotri’s most powerful works yet.
If you have the courage to face history head-on, The Bengal Files is a must-watch. It will shake you, move you, and stay with you long after the credits roll.
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ½ (3.5/5)
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