Filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri has alleged that members of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) are “trying to blackmail” him over his upcoming film The Bengal Files.

“The ruling party members have filed many FIRs. They have a major objection to the untold story of Hindu genocide. They have a problem with the word ‘Hindu’… A lot of people, members of TMC, have been trying to blackmail us,” Agnihotri said.

The director made the remarks after the trailer launch of The Bengal Files in Kolkata on Saturday was disrupted. He claimed organisers at ITC Royal Bengal hotel withdrew permission at the last moment and that “some people came and cut all the wires.”

Agnihotri is returning to the big screens after his superhit film, 'The Kashmir Files’. 'Bengal Files' narrates the tale of the alleged "Hindu Genocide" in West Bengal during the Direct Action Day in 1946.

The trailer opens with a monologue stating the situation of Bengal before the partition. The trailer features strong performances of Anupam Kher, Mithun Chakraborty, Pallavi Joshi and Darshan Kumaar.

The video also showcased brutal killings during the riots between Hindus and Muslims in Kolkata. In one of the scenes, an actor described Bengal as the "lighthouse" of India, showcasing its strong resistance to the partition of Bengal.

While sharing the trailer of 'The Bengal Files' on his Instagram handle, Vivek Agnihotri wrote, "In memory of the victims of Direct Action Day (16th August 1946), I present to you the official trailer of #TheBengalFiles -- the boldest film ever on the untold story of the Hindu genocide. In cinemas 5th September 2025."

What’s the controversy?

The film explores the communal violence in undivided Bengal during the 1940s, including events like the 1946 Direct Action Day and the Noakhali riots of 1946, a Hindu genocide.

A ruckus erupted during the release of 'The Bengal Files' trailer in Kolkata on Saturday. After all the preparations for the trailer launch at ITC Royal Bengal, the hotel organisers were not allowing the Bengal Files trailer launch to take place.

Filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri asked everyone to calm down, "Please bear with us..I mean, all this happened with the permissions and approvals, and now, at the last minute, they are saying that they have got some instructions that we cannot play (trailer)...Please sit down..you can see what is happening it seems there are two constitutions in India..one Indian constitution and one special constitution that runs here..."

He alleged disruption during the trailer launch of his film, saying, "If this is not dictatorship/fascism, then what is?...Law and order in your state has failed, and this is the reason that everyone supports 'The Bengal Files'..." "I have just got to know what some people came here (event venue in a private hotel) and cut all the wires. I don't know on whose orders this is happening? You know who those people are behind us. After all tests and trials, this program was being held. The hotel managers still can't tell us why we are not allowed to continue with our program..."